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Olivia Bellows holds a basketball while seated.
Junebug Photography
Pictured, Olivia Bellows
53
UW-River Falls UWRF 4-3,0-0 WIAC
72
Winner Hope Hope 5-2,0-0 Michigan Intercol. Ath. Assn.
UW-River Falls UWRF
4-3,0-0 WIAC
53
Final
72
Hope Hope
5-2,0-0 Michigan Intercol. Ath. Assn.
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
UW-River Falls UWRF 16 14 14 9 53
Hope Hope 22 5 17 28 72

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Alan Babbitt

No. 19 Women's Basketball Erupts in the Fourth Quarter, Beats Wisconsin-River Falls

The Hope College women's basketball team finished the game in a festive mood.

The nationally-ranked Flying Dutch pulled away for a 72-53 victory against The University of Wisconsin River Falls on Saturday at DeVos Fieldhouse by outscoring the Falcons, 28-9, during the fourth quarter.

Hope (5-2 overall) overcame a frustrating second quarter to defeat a second opponent from the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference this week. The Flying Dutch, who were ranked 19th in this week's D3hoops.com poll, topped the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse, 68-65, on Tuesday.

Now, Hope heads into MIAA play on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. against Albion College at DeVos Fieldhouse. The Flying Dutch were league co-champions last season and topped the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.

Senior guard Olivia Bellows (Lake City, Michigan / Lake City HS) led Hope with a career-high 23 points, including 20 after halftime.

Freshman guard/forward Maddie Petroelje (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) chipped in a season-high 13 points. 

Both Petroelje and Bellows buried three 3-pointers.

Senior guard Jada Garner (Midland, Michigan / H.H. Dow) added nine points after going 7-of-10 from the line.

The Flying Dutch scored 45 second-half points after netting only five second-quarter points and falling behind, 30-27, at halftime.

Head coach Brian Morehouse was proud of how his team responded after halftime.

"I thought we were horrible in the second quarter; the ball was stuck. We didn't pass. We didn't cut," Morehouse said. "To their credit, we had a really good third quarter and a great fourth quarter where we shot 56% and 4-of-8 from 3. We were plus-nine at the free-throw line in the second half."

During the fourth quarter alone, Hope shot 56.3% from the field (9-16), including 50% from 3-point range (4-8). The Flying Dutch were also 75% from the foul line (6-8).

Defensively, Hope forced 10 fourth-quarter turnovers and held River Falls to only six field-goal attempts.

"The ball moved. Obviously, you've got to make shots and we made shots," Morehouse said when asked about the fourth-quarter surge. "I thought we were engaged on defense in the fourth quarter. Our offense was good in the fourth quarter, but our defense triggered our offense. 

"We have a lot of good offensive players, and the sooner we realize the better we are, we'll be a better basketball team."
 
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