Fast out of the gate for the second game in a row, the Hope College women's basketball team grabbed control early against Muskingum University in the opening game of the Wittenberg University Holiday Class Tournament on Wednesday in Springfield, Ohio.

The 17th-ranked Flying Dutch won the first meeting between the two teams, 83-49, after jumping ahead 12-2 to start the game. Junior Sydney Vis (Byron Center, Michigan / South Christian HS) started the early surge with a layup. Freshman Maddie Petroelje (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) capped the run with one of her season-high four 3-pointers. 

Hope (9-2, 2-0 MIAA) led, 38-25 at the half, but broke open the game with a 21-7 third quarter.

The Flying Dutch sunk seven shots from behind the arc during the third and fourth quarters, including three from Petroelje, who finished 50% from 3-point range (4-8).

Petroelje scored a season-high 16 points off the bench to lead the Flying Dutch in their sixth consecutive victory since Nov. 26. The forward finished the game shooting 50% (6-12).

Seniors Olivia Bellows (Lake City, Michigan / Lake City) and Jada Garner (Midland, Michigan / H.H. Dow) each recorded 14 points. It is Garner's third double-digit game of the season and the fourth for Bellows.

Vis chipped in 11 points.

Senior Courtney Lee (Fishers, Indiana / Heritage Christian) dragged down a game-high eight rebounds for Hope. 

The Flying Dutch held Muskingum to 25.4% shooting from the field, while the Orange and Blue finished with 46% and 42.3% shooting from the field and from the 30-point range, respectively. 

The Flying Dutch are back on the court on Thursday, Dec. 19, at 2 p.m. to play tournament host Wittenberg at 2 p.m.