Hope College

This century, the Hope College women's basketball team has made winning the season's first game a tradition.

The nationally ranked Flying Dutch won their 27th consecutive season opener on Friday, topping the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, 72-65, on Friday at DeVos Fieldhouse during the second annual Michele Schoon Tournament. Hope's last lost the first game in season in 1999.

"It's hard to start the season off with a win," head coach Brian Morehouse said. "That's a very good team; {Platteville was] a national tournament team last year for a season. They're very well coached. You normally can't have a team shoot 11-of-25 from 3 and win. We were able to withstand that. It's a sigh of relief to get through the first one. Now we got big one tomorrow."

The Flying Dutch — No. 4 in the D3hoops preseason poll and No. 9 in the WBCA rankings — will face another returning NCAA qualifier on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 3 p.m. in the championship game: Illinois Wesleyan. The two teams played twice last season at DeVos Fieldhouse, and Hope won both games went to overtime, including the second round of the national tournament.

The Schoon Tournament honors the legacy of Michele Sterk '91 School, Michele, a member of the 1990 Women's Basketball national championship team and the 2023 recipient of the Hope for Humanity Award. She passed away in May of 2023 after a courageous battle with breast cancer. Ohio Wesleyan will play Wisconsin-Platteville on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Three Flying Dutch scored in double figures, led by a career-high 20 points from senior guard Terin Maynard (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Jenison).

Maynard shot 72.7% from the field (8-11), often breaking down the Platteville defense with drives to the basket. Maynard also dished out a team-best six assists.

Sophomore guard Josie DeSmit (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) netted a career-high 15 points.

Junior forward Leah Richards (DeWitt, Michigan / Lansing Catholic) chipped in 15 points and a game-high eight rebounds.

Hope outscored the Pioneers, 42-20, in the paint, allowing the Flying Dutch to withstand Platteville's 3-point shooting. The score was tied once midway through the first quarter, but Hope never trailed.

Guard Caitlyn Strom topped the Pioneers with 19 points and three 3-pointers.

Illinois Wesleyan (No. 20 WBC) edged Ohio Wesleyan (No. 17 WBCA/No. 24 D3hoops) by a 60-59 margin in Friday's game.