One final title for the Hope College women's basketball team was earned for 2022, champions of the Ohio Wesleyan's Hoops For Hope Tournament.
With an 89- 71 win over Otterbein University in Delaware, Ohio on Friday afternoon, the Flying Dutch improved to 11-1 overall and completed the first half of the season unscathed in tournament play.
"I was proud of how our girls prepared more than anything, I thought they really worked hard at watching video on their own, and they were able to take what we taught them and apply it quickly in our practice this morning," said head coach Brian Morehouse.
The Cardinals picked up a 4-2 start over Hope for their only lead of the afternoon before Hope took control and owned the lead for the remainder of the game after successfully sinking their first five shots of the game.
The Orange and Blue posted a 25-point deficit over Otterbein twice during gameplay, in both the third and fourth quarter.
Senior Claire Baguley (Ada, Michigan / Forest Hills Central HS) notched a new season-high with 21 points in Hope's third tournament championship game of the season. Baguley secured 9 of 10 shots from the field, and was perfect behind both the 3-point line (1-1) and the free throw line (2-2).
"I thought Claire was fantastic today in every facet of the game, amazing defensively and really helped us set the tone for the whole game and was super efficient on offense. She played under control, but was super aggressive", said Morehouse.
Senior Savannah Feenstra of Osceola, Indiana (Northwood) marked her eighth double-digit point game of the season to help Hope to victory. Feenstra grabbed a game-high eight rebounds. The nursing major was selected to the All-Tournament team and also earned the Tournament MVP honor after tallying 15 and 17 points in the two games at the Hoops For Hope Tournament.
"Savannah played very aggressively, she got to the free throw line eleven times, but I think she was very much under control during the game."
Fellow classmate, senior Ella McKinney (Haslett, Michigan / Haslett) also made the All-Tournament team after netting nine points and grabbing a game-high five assists in the win over Otterbein.
The Flying Dutch cruise into MIAA league play as they travel to Alma College on January 4 for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.