The nationally-ranked Hope College women's basketball team used two big quarters to reel in a big win over The University of Olivet on Saturday afternoon.
The Flying Dutch recorded the win, 84-46, after building a 28-13 lead after the first quarter.
Hope capitalized on 10 Comets turnovers, with six steals from five different players, including two from junior guard Jada Garner (Midland, Michigan / H.H. Dow HS) during the first quarter.
After back-to-back game-opening three-pointers from Sophomore Sydney Vis (Byron Center, Michigan / South Christian) and sophomore Keegan Kaiser(New Albany, Indiana / Floyd Central), Hope used a 20-3 point run to finish out quarter one.
Now 9-0 in MIAA play, and 17-1 overall, Hope remains at the top of the league standings. Hope is No. 5 in this week's WBCA rankings, and seventh in the D3hoops.com poll.
The Flying Dutch, up 21 points at the half, bolstered the score by outscoring Olivet 24-12 in the third quarter.
Hope was led by Vis and freshman Chloe Brunsberg, each with 17 points in the win.
Vis sent in 6 of her 9 shots from the field, while going 3-for-3 from behind the arc and 2-for-2 from the free throw line.
Brunsberg did not miss a shot en route to her career-high 17 points. The Chaska, Minnesota (Southwest Christian) native sank all five shots from the field, five shots from behind the arc, and both attempts from the free throw line.
Junior Olivia Bellows (Lake City, Michigan / Lake City) and sophomore Karsen Karlblom (Crystal Lake, Illinois / Prairie Ridge) chipped in 12 and 8 points, respectively.
Juniors Lauren Nemens (Sterling Heights, Michigan / Adlai E. Stevenson) and Courtney Lee (Fishers, Indiana / Heritage Christian) each had a game-high seven rebounds to help Hope out-rebound Olivet, 41 to 39.
Sophomore Lauren Leach (Angola, Indiana / Angola) had a game-high five assists.
The Flying Dutch held Olivet to just 29.1% field goal shooting, and 27.3% from behind the arc.
Hope finished the road victory shooting 44.4% from the field, and 51.9% from the three point line.
The Flying Dutch return home to DeVos Fieldhouse for Community Night on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 6 p.m. against Albion College.
