An earlier-than-usual weekday start did not throw the nationally-ranked Hope College women's basketball team off its game.

Tipping off two hours earlier at 5 p.m. to get ahead of a winter storm in lower Michigan, the Flying Dutch dominated the first quarter and rolled to a 95-57 victory against Kalamazoo College on Wednesday at DeVos Fieldhouse.

Playing for the first time in a week, Hope never trailed and jumped to a 28-9 lead after 10 minutes. The Flying Dutch (19-3, 12-1 MIAA) finished with 13 players scoring, including four in double figures, while setting up a rematch with first-place and nationally-ranked Trine University on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 3 p.m. at DeVos Fieldhouse.

Nationally-ranked Trine leads Hope by one game in the league standings. The Flying Dutch can pull even and gain the tiebreaker edge with a victory. Trine can clinch a share of the league title with a victory.

"I like how we played together," head coach Brian Morehouse said after the Flying Dutch swept the season series from an improved Kalamazoo team that already had doubled its win total from last season with eight victories. "I like that we shared the ball pretty well, shot a high percentage. That means the ball is moving, we're taking good shots. I thought we had a good balance of 3s and 2s."

Hope — ranked 15th by D3hoops and 19th by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association poll this week — shot 47.7% from the floor (41-65) against the Hornets, including 38.5% from 3-point range (10-26). 

The Flying Dutch went a season-best 85.2% from the free-throw line (23-27).

Forward Maddie Petroelje (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) topped Hope with 18 points off the bench, including a team-high four 3-pointers. The freshman also recorded six rebounds and two steals against Kalamazoo (8-14, 3-10 MIAA).

Senior guard Olivia Bellows (Lake City, Michigan / Lake City) and junior forward Sydney Vis (Byron Center, Michigan / South Christian) chipped in 12 points apiece.

Senior guard Brooklyn Robak (Clarkston, Michigan / Waterford Our Lady of Lake) added career highs with 11 points, three rebounds and two assists. Robak also had two steals.

The Flying Dutch finished plus-17 against the MIAA's top rebounding team. All 15 Hope players grabbed at least one rebound.

Defensively, the Flying Dutch held Kalamazoo (8-13, 3-10 MIAA) to 36.5% field-goal shooting and forced 24 turnovers. Guard Ruby Hogan led the Hornets with 13 points and four turnovers.

The victory was Hope's eighth in a row this season, matching a season high. 

The Flying Dutch also defeated Kalamazoo for the 72nd consecutive time dating back to the 1993-94 season, their longest winning streak against an MIAA opponent.