| Anna Kaufmann and Hope are
1-0 in conference but that one win is a big one Hope athletics file photo by Alan Babbitt |
The season is only five days young and No. 9 Hope may have already cleared its biggest hurdle of the conference season, thanks to contributions from two young players. The Flying Dutch defeated archrival Calvin 88-81 in Grand Rapids to open MIAA play.
Calvin got off to a quick start and built an 18-5 lead six minutes into the game. Hope settled in and whittled the lead to six at the half. The Flying Dutch scored the first six points of the second half to tie the score at 35 and then took the lead for good on a Rebecca Llorens' layup less than a minute later. Hope pushed the lead to 10 at the eight minute mark and held the Knights off the rest of the way.
The Flying Dutch were led by sophomore forward Maura McAfee who tallied 20 points and 16 rebounds in 28 minutes. Freshman Angelique Gaddy added 16 points and Hannah Doell had 13 points and 10 rebounds. Kayla Engelhard led Calvin with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Either Hope or Calvin has won every conference title since 2005. The teams meet again in Holland on February 1.
No. 7 Amherst opened its season with a 67-52 win over Keene State. Freshman Meredith Doswell scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds for the Lord Jeffs. No. 4 UW-Whitewater defeated Chicago 90-76 on the road by scoring 30 points off 28 Maroon turnovers.
No. 15 Williams defeated MASCAC preseason favorite Bridgewater State 78-64. Katie Litman had 20 points and 13 rebounds off the bench for the Ephs. Lebanon Valley edged Misericordia 83-81 in overtime.
Plattsburgh State mashed perennial NCAA tournament participant St. Lawrence 88-52. The University of New England improved to 3-0 with a 66-62 win over Southern Maine. Alyssa Cuomo hit two free throws with 4 seconds left as Keystone topped Division II Mercy 71-70.
Men's recap
|
John Baron picked up his 200th career win in
Gwynedd-Mercy's season home opener. |
Christopher Newport shot 52 percent from the field and hit 12 three pointers to edge No. 16 Randolph-Macon 84-83. The Yellow Jackets outrebounded the Captains 44-25 but all five starters scored double figures for Christopher Newport.
Loras upset No. 5 Wheaton (Ill.) 74-73 in the Duhawks' home opener. Hobart topped Rochester 83-73 in Geneva for the firs time in 12 seasons.
No. 25 Virginia Wesleyan avoided an early slip-up against Salisbury, 69-58. The Marlins, who opened last season with a loss to the Sea Gulls, rode DJ Woodmore's 18 points to victory.
Elsewhere Gwynedd-Mercy handled Penn State-Berks 90-53 and handed Coach John Baron his 200th career victory. Arron Goodman, who transferred to Gwynedd-Mercy from conference rival Cabrini, led the Griffins with 18 points and 17 rebounds.
Tom Palombo captured his 200th win at Guilford and his 300th win overall as the Quakers stopped Greensboro 77-65.
No. 19 Cabrini opened its season with an 89-75 win over Eastern to retain the Battle of Eagle Road Trophy. Aaron Walton-Moss had 18 points and 12 rebounds in 25 minutes for the Cavaliers, who are getting ready for the Hoopsville National Invitational Classic.