No. 6 Hope Women's Basketball Beats Capital for Post Exam Jam Title

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Two 20-point efforts powered the nationally ranked Hope women's basketball team to a 93-68 win vs. Capital (Ohio) in the championship game of the Flying Dutch's Post Exam Jam on Saturday.

A MVP performance from junior forward Rebekah Llorens of Grayslake, Ill. (Grayslake Central HS), and a career-high 23 points from senior guard Megan Kelley of Rockford (Rockford HS) led the Flying Dutch.

Hope, which improved to 9-0 overall, received 21 points and 12 rebounds from Llorens. She shot 9-of-11 from the field in 24 minutes of action.

"I thought Bekah got the ball and finished. … Bekah played awesome," Hope coach Brian Morehouse said. "We certainly threw it to her when she was open, but I also think she created a lot of her own offense today by just going and getting the basketball on the offensive glass."

It was Llorens' second double-double of the season.

"My motto always is, 'I get my points when the team is doing well," Llorens said, "because that means the ball is moving. If I'm open … it means we're all working together."

Kelley joined Llorens and teammate Maura McAfee of Midland (Midland HS) on the all-tournament team.

Kelley went 10-of-11 from the foul line and grabbed six rebounds.

"We were able to work the ball around really, really well," Kelley said. "I was able to get to the basket, and they fouled me and I knocked down my free throws."

McAfee posted her team-leading fifth double-double of the season with 12 rebounds and 12 rebounds. She also recorded a season-high seven steals.

Hope broke open a close game by outscoring Capital 50-33 during the second half.

The Flying Dutch grabbed 53 rebounds, including 27 on the offensive glass that matched the season-high accomplished Nov. 19 at Calvin.

"I thought we rebounded the ball well," Morehouse said. "That got us extra possessions."

Hope is ranked No. 2 in the USA Today Sports NCAA Division III Coaches Poll and No. 6 in the d3hoops.com rankings.

Capital (5-3 overall) received a game-high 26 points from all-tournament selection Jamie Caton.

Robert Morris-Springfield (Ill.) beat Finlandia 71-60 in the consolation game. All-tournament selection Marquichea Burns led Robert Morris-Springfield with 14 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.