With a balanced offense and a dominating rebound presence, the Hope College women's basketball team collected a big win in its MIAA opener.
Hope — ranked No. 17 in this week's WBCA Coaches Poll and No. 22 by D3hoops.com — led for nearly 90% of the game, rolling to a 68-51 victory against Albion College on the road on Wednesday night to improve to 5-1 this season.
"[Albion] is one of the toughest places that I ever have to coach at in my career, and you go in there and get a win, you just feel great about it," said head coach Brian Morehouse. "I thought we played really efficiently tonight, from the free-throw line, to the 3-point line, to the field."
After a hot start with Hope jumping out to a 10-2 lead, Albion (4-2 overall) would march back to tie things at 13 to end the first quarter.
Hope regained the lead just a minute into the second quarter, and never looked back. An 11-2 run highlighted by two successful free throws and a swish from behind the arc from the hands of junior Olivia Bellows (Lake City, Michigan / Lake City) pushed Hope's lead to nine.
The Flying Dutch put three players in double figures.
"We're not going to be a superstar-driven team, we're going to be a balanced team," said Morehouse.
Sophomore Karsen Karlblom (Crystal Lake, Illinois / Prairie Ridge) and Bellows each notched a team-high 15 points.
Freshman Terin Maynard (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Jenison) chipped in 10 points for Hope.
"I'm most excited about [Terin's] floor leadership," said Morehouse. "As a freshman, she is leading people on the court that are four years older than her, and she is just showing great maturity in doing it."
Hope finished out the game shooting 44.4% from the field, 55.6% from behind the arc, and 90.9% from the free throw line.
The Flying Dutch's also used rebounding as a decisive factor. Hope grabbed 43 rebounds to Albion's 26.
Junior Courtney Lee (Fishers, Indiana / Heritage Christian HS) led the charge in rebounds sharing a game-high six rebounds with Albion's Lolo Reed and Daniah Beavers.
Hope returns to DeVos Fieldhouse on Saturday, Dec. 2 against Olivet College at 3 p.m.