by Alan Babbitt
At the start of the week, Hope College women's basketball players prepared for the NCAA Division III sectional tournament by shooting free throws daily on their own. A lot of them.
The dilligence paid off.
The second-ranked Flying Dutch exceeded their season average on back-to-back nights this weekend and sank two dozen of them on Saturday en route to an 83-64 victory agaiunst seventh-ranked New York University in the sectional championship game.
The sectional title is Hope's third, joining the 2010 team that finished national runner-up and the 2006 team that won the national championship. The Flying Dutch's 1990 national champions won a three-team regional tournament before advancing to the national semifinals.
Hope outscored NYU, 24-1, at the line during the game to help the Flying Dutch clinch a spot in the national semifinals on Thursday, March 17, at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Hope will face fellow MIAA regular-season champion Trine University at a time to be announced.
"Starting on Monday, every kid shot 100 free throws, every day," head coach Brian Morehouse said. "It was half-mental, maybe some of it was physical, and I think it made a difference. I think we walked up, stepped up, knocked them down. I think knowing you put in the work. gives you a lot of confidencew when you walk up to the line.
"We don't shoot free throws as a team. This week, it was go get your 100 in. We trust you. We had kids stringing together 94, 95, 96 makes out of 100. I think they said 'When I get in the game, I'm making these.' We shot it better today, and that was huge reason we won."
Hope entered the weekend shooting 66.6 percent from the free-throw line as a team.
On Saturday, the Flying Dutch made 82.8 percent of their foul shots (24-29). The free throws made were their second-highest total of the season.
On Friday, Hope finished at a 70 percent clip (14-20) during a victory against Millikin University (Ill.).
Against NYU, Hope went 10-of-12 at the line during the third quarter to spark a decisive 25-15 run that opened up a 60-49 lead. Six different Flying Dutch sank at least one free throw, including four who made both of their attempts.
Senior Kenedy Schoonveld (Zeeland, Michigan / Holland Christian HS) made both of her attempts en route to a team-high 21 points.
Senior Sydney Muller (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian) also buried both of her free throws during the third quarter and finished with 14 points.
Senior Olivia Voskuil (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian) made one foul shot and totaled 10 points.
Senior Kate Majerus (Sycamore, Illinois / Sycamore) also went 2-of-2 at the line and scored all eight of her points during the third quarter. Majerus also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
Junior guard Meg Morehouse (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland East) and senior Hannah Smith (Midland, Michigan / Midland) also contributed at the line with two and one makes, respectively.
"The difference in the game was foul shooting. Credit to them getting to the line to get 29 shots up," NYU head coach Meg Barber said. "I thought our team absolutely battled. (Hope is) so talented. I know when the bracket came out, I said 'That's the best team in the country.' I think this an absolute powerhouse. They're a senior-laden them. They have a lot to play for."