Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Hope College

Scoreboard

#BeStrongBeTrue
Bayli Stewart drives to the basket vs. Alma
Jacob Knox '29
Pictured, Bayli Stewart
59
Alma ALMA 1-4,0-1 Michigan Intercol. Ath. Assn.
85
Winner Hope Hope 4-1,1-0 Michigan Intercol. Ath. Assn.
Alma ALMA
1-4,0-1 Michigan Intercol. Ath. Assn.
59
Final
85
Hope Hope
4-1,1-0 Michigan Intercol. Ath. Assn.
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Alma ALMA 19 9 17 14 59
Hope Hope 21 26 21 17 85

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Josh Decker '24

Women's Basketball Debuts in WBCA Poll, Cruises Past Alma in MIAA Opener

After a slow start, the Hope College women's basketball team upped the tempo to defeat Alma College, 85-69, on Tuesday night in the MIAA opener at DeVos Fieldhouse.

The nationally-ranked Flying Dutch erupted for 38 points over the final 13 minutes of the first half to take a 47-28 halftime lead.

Hope (4-1 overall) overcame an early 11-7 deficit, applying lessons learned from a 65-62 loss to Ohio Wesleyan University on Saturday, head coach Brian Morehouse said.

"Our starters did not play great on Saturday in Grand Rapids. I thought our starters came out with a purpose today. They got challenged and they got behind, which I think was good," Morehouse said. "We got behind [to Alma] and came out with a lot of intentionality about how we wanted to play."

Earlier in the day, Hope debuted in the second Women's Basketball Coaches Association NCAA Division III poll at No. 22. The Flying Dutch were No. 23 in the D3hoops preseason poll.

The victory was the 999th in program history. The Flying Dutch's all-time record is 999-350 (.741) since the inaugural 1972-73 season.

Hope's record since the 1982-83 season, when the NCAA started recording women's basketball results, is 911-239 (.792).

The Flying Dutch's next game is Friday, Nov. 21, at their Michele Schoon Sterk Classic at DeVos Fieldhouse. Hope will face Carthage College (Wisconsin) at 7 p.m., following the 5 p.m. game between nationally-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University and Franciscan University (Ohio).

A fast-paced game led to Hope turning Alma over 20 times, tying the season-high. Hope also scored 19 points off turnovers.

In the second quarter, the Flying Dutch erupted for 26 points, going 66.7% from the field (12-of-18) and 50% from 3 (2-of-4).

An all-around scoring night for Hope featured four players in double figures and 12 players scoring. 

Sophomore Leah Richards (Dewitt, Michigan / Lansing Catholic) led the way with 17 points followed by senior Sydney Vis (Byron Center, Michigan / South Christian) with 15, Anna Richards (Dewitt, Michigan / Lansing Catholic) with 11 and sophomore Katie Blazei (Franklin, Wisconsin / Martin Luther) with 10. 

Hope was an inside force to be reckoned with, scoring 54 points in the paint with the dominant post play from Leah Richards and Blazei. Blazei shot a perfect 5-of-5 from the field. Leah Richards also snagged six boards, helping the Flying Dutch outrebound Alma 37-34. 

Cadence Kaminski topped Alma (1-4, 0-1 MIAA) with 23 points and five 3-pointers.

 
Print Friendly Version