Unselfish play and a relentless defense served as catalysts to launch the Hope College women's basketball team into the sectional semifinals for the seventh time in school history.

The Flying Dutch beat Wisconsin Lutheran 72-47 Saturday in the NCAA Division III Tournament second-round action in Wheaton, Illinois.

No. 14 Hope (25-4) advanced to play No. 2-ranked St. Thomas, Minnesota (29-0) in next weekend's sectional at a site to be announced on Sunday.

The Hope-St. Thomas winner will face either No. 1 Thomas More, Kentucky (29-0) or No. 8 Washington-St. Louis (25-2) in the national quarterfinals.

"We had 22 assists on 26 baskets, which is a pretty unbelievable stat about sharing the basketball," Hope coach Brian Morehouse said.

The Flying Dutch held Wisconsin Lutheran (24-5) to a season-low in points and 27.8 points below their season average.

Junior Maura McAfee of Midland, Michigan (Midland HS), scored a game-high 19 points for the Flying Dutch. She has 427 points this season, passing her previous career-high of 411 and good for seventh all-time at Hope.

McAfee also grabbed seven rebounds to become the first Hope player to surpass 300 rebounds in a single season. She has 305.

Senior Brittany Berry of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Catholic Central HS), chipped in 15 points and a season-high nine assists.

Berry made all five of her baskets from 3-point range. She extended her single-season and career school records for 3-pointers to 81 and 225, respectively. 

Berry's nine assists is the most a Hope player has had in a game this season.

Senior Rebekah Llorens of Grayslake, Illinois (Grayslake Central HS), scored 10 points, while junior guard Autumn Anderson of Dorr, Michigan (Wayland HS), added nine points and seven assists.

Hope never trailed after scoring the game's first eight points. The Flying Dutch led 37-20 at halftime.