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Hope College

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The Hope College women's basketball team pose for a group photo on the court at DeVos Fieldhouse.
Lynne Powe
82
Winner Hope Hope 7-1,2-0 Michigan Intercol. Ath. Assn.
42
St. Mary's (IN) SMC-IN 4-4,0-2 Michigan Intercol. Ath. Assn.
Winner
Hope Hope
7-1,2-0 Michigan Intercol. Ath. Assn.
82
Final
42
St. Mary's (IN) SMC-IN
4-4,0-2 Michigan Intercol. Ath. Assn.
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Hope Hope 14 19 23 26 82
St. Mary's (IN) SMC-IN 15 11 8 8 42

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Greg Chandler

Nationally-Ranked Women's Basketball Surges Past Saint Mary's

The Hope College women's basketball team overcame a slow start Saturday afternoon to defeat Saint Mary's College, 82-42, at the Angela Athletic Center in Notre Dame, Indiana.

The Flying Dutch, ranked ninth in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association poll and No. 10 nationally by D3hoops.com, improved to 2-0 in the MIAA and 7-1 overall. 

The game was Hope's first in two weeks, since a 76-73 overtime victory over nationally-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University on Nov. 22. 

Head coach Brian Morehouse was pleased with how the Flying Dutch responded to returning from a two-week break and an early challenge from the Belles (4-4, 0-2 MIAA). Saint Mary's battled MIAA preseason favorite Calvin University on Wednesday at home before falling, 61-57.

"The first half had a lot of ups and downs, but Chloe Brunsberg did a great job of finding a couple shots late in the first half to give us momentum heading into the second half," Morehouse said. "I thought in the second half we came out and really did an amazing job on the defensive end and finished possessions with rebounds, which allowed us to play in flow going to offense. Now we get ready for a week of exams and then three games in six days, including a road trip to Atlanta."

Saint Mary's closed out the first quarter against Hope on a 9-0 run to take a 15-14 lead. The Belles then extended their lead to 23-16 early in the second quarter on back-to-back, 3-point baskets by Annie Restovich.

The Flying Dutch clamped down after that, holding Saint Mary's without a field goal over the last 7 minutes, 21 seconds of the first half. 

Hope outscored Saint Mary's 17-3 the rest of the half, capped off by a trio of 3-point baskets by Brunsberg (Chaska, Minnesota / Southwest Christian) to take a 33-26 halftime lead.

The Flying Dutch broke the game open in the third quarter. Sophomore forward Maddie Petroelje (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) scored eight points as Hope dominated the period by a 23-8 margin to open up a 56-34 lead. The Flying Dutch then tacked on 26 more points in the fourth quarter.

Hope shot 50.7 percent from the field (34-of-67), the third time this season that the Flying Dutch have shot at least 50 percent or better from the floor in a game. Defensively, Hope limited Saint Mary's to 23.7 percent from the field (14-of-59) and forced 22 turnovers, converting them into 17 points.

Sophomore center Leah Richards (DeWitt, Michigan / Lansing Catholic) led the Flying Dutch with 15 points. Brunsberg hit 4-of-5 shots from 3-point range as she added 12 points, while Petroelje chipped in 11.

Freshman guard Josie DeSmit (Hudsonville, Michigan/Hudsonville) led Hope in rebounding with seven, while sophomore guard Anna Richards (DeWitt, Michigan / Lansing Catholic) grabbed six boards, helping the Flying Dutch control the glass by a 49-33 margin.

Freshman Gillian Sorelle (Grand Haven, Michigan / Grand Haven) provided a spark off the bench in the second quarter for Hope, finishing the game with seven points and a team-high four steals in 11 minutes of action.

After a week of final exams, the Flying Dutch return to action Saturday, Dec. 13, for an MIAA contest at Kalamazoo College. Tip-off from the Anderson Athletic Center is 3 p.m.
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