The nationally-ranked Hope College women's basketball team utilized a 28-point first quarter, as well as a 24-point third quarter, to pocket its seventh win of the season. 

The Flying Dutch remain unbeaten in MIAA play after they defeated Saint Mary's College, 78-44, on the road on Wednesday evening. 

Hope moved to 7-1 this season and 3-0 in the league to remain atop the MIAA standings. 

Senior Raven Jemison (Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Kentwood HS) started the Flying Dutch off with a layup before Saint Mary's would go up by as many as eight with a 20-12 lead at the four-minute mark of the first quarter. 

Back-to-back successful 3-pointers from junior Olivia Bellows (Lake City, Michigan / Lake City) put the Flying Dutch back within two. 

Five consecutive points for sophomore Sydney Vis (Byron Center, Michigan / South Christian) followed Bellows' six points, giving Hope back the lead, 23-20. 

With a 28-23 lead to begin the second quarter, Hope put in five more unanswered points after junior Courtney Lee (Fishers, Indiana / Heritage Christian) sank two from behind the line, and Bellows sank a third shot from behind the arc to jump to a 10-point lead. 

The Flying Dutch held Saint Mary's to 10 points in each quarter for the rest of the game en route to the win. 

Hope was led by Vis, who had 17 points.

Bellows, who had 14 points off the bench, went 5 for 7 from the field, and 4 for 5 from behind the arc in the victory for her seventh double-digit game of the season, and sixth consecutive. 

Junior Hannah Kurncz (DeWitt, Michigan / DeWitt) had a team-high six rebounds for Hope. Lee and Jemison each reeled in five rebounds apiece.  Jemison also had a team-best four steals.

Hope returns to home court to renew The Rivalry as the Flying Dutch take on Calvin University on Saturday, Dec. 9. Tipoff at DeVos Fieldhouse is set for 7 p.m.