The third-ranked Hope College women's basketball team defeated Albion 71-53 Saturday to clinch at least a share of the 2015-16 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association title.

The Flying Dutch (23-0 overall) are two games up on second-place Calvin with two games remaining.

Hope can claim the league title outright with a win atKalamazoo on Wednesday.

The Flying Dutch are MIAA champions for the 15th time in team history and 13th time since the 1999-2000 season.

Against Albion, Hope won its 14th MIAA game of the season behind the 10th double-double of the season from senior forward Maura McAfee of Midland, Michigan (Midland HS).McAfee totaled a game-high 17 points and 16 rebounds.

McAfee is fourth all-time at Hope with 1,321 points. She is first with 993 career rebounds.

Junior guard Allie Gorcyca of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (Mercy HS) matched her career-high with 12 points in the Flying Dutch's final regular-season home game.Gorcyca, pictured, went 4-of-5 from 3-point range.

Junior forward Elizabeth Perkins of Eaton Rapids, Michigan (Eaton Rapids HS) chipped in 10 points.

The Flying Dutch outscored Albion 23-8 during the second quarter for a 38-21 halftime lead. Hope has nearly doubled opponents' second-quarter point production this season with an edge of 494 to 251. 

Tipoff at Kalamazoo is 6 p.m. Wednesday. It is part of a women's and men's doubleheader with the Hornets.