The nationally-ranked Hope College women's basketball team used a strong third-quarter surge and Maddie Petroelje's elite scoring to earn a 63-57 victory against visiting Hardin-Simmons University (Texas) on Wednesday.
In the first meeting between the two teams, the game featured nine lead changes and two ties. The Flying Dutch (No. 12 WBCA/No. 14 D3hoops) responded after halftime, overcoming a six-point deficit with a 21-8 third-quarter run and taking the lead for good.
Petroelje (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) led all scorers with a career-high 27 points, becoming the 10th Flying Dutch standout to deliver at least 27 points in a game at DeVos Fieldhouse. She shot 57.1% from the field (8-14), drained six 3-pointers and went 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. Defensively, Petroelje added two steals and a block.
Hope (19-3 overall) improved its play in key areas after halftime, outscoring Hardin-Simmons in points off turnovers and winning the battle on the glass. The Flying Dutch held a 38-34 rebounding advantage and finished with 18 points off turnovers.
Head coach Brian Morehouse emphasized the importance of the small details against a 17-win, nonleague opponent like Hardin-Simmons (RV WBCA and D3hoops).
"We talked a lot about winning the margins.That's fast break points. It's offensive rebounds — giving them up and getting them — it's points off turnovers and things like that," Morehouse said. "We were minus three in the first half in points off turnovers, and we were plus 20 in the second half. We really challenged them at halftime."
Sophomore guard Anna Richards (DeWitt, Michigan / Lansing Catholic) added 12 points and five rebounds.
Sophomore Leah Richards (DeWitt, Michigan / Lansing Catholic) dominated the boards with a game-high 18 rebounds to go along with nine points.
Freshman Josie DeSmit (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) provided a spark off the bench with six points, and Chloe Brunsberg (Chaska, Minnesota / Southwest Christian) chipped in five points.
Hardin-Simmons (17-5) shot 41.8% from the field in the opening half but was limited to 23.1% shooting during the third quarter. Abbie Crow led three Cowgirls in double figures with 13 points.
Hope's next game is Saturday, Feb. 14 at 3 p.m., at the University of Olivet.
