With the return of 11 letterwinners from its 2004-05 MIAA co-championship team, the Flying Dutch approach an historic time for HopeCollege women's basketball with optimism.
With the return of 11 letterwinners from its 2004-05 MIAA co-championship team, the Flying Dutch approach an historic time for HopeCollege women's basketball with optimism.
The Flying Dutch will take their rich tradition to the college's new Richard and Helen DeVos Fieldhouse. A new dimension will be several home doubleheaders featuring the women's and men's teams.
The season begins Saturday, Nov. 19 when the Flying Dutch host Edgewood, Wisc. in the first collegiate basketball game in the new fieldhouse. Tipoff before a pre-game sellout crowd will be 5:30 p.m.
Coach Brian Morehouse begins his 10th season at the helm of a program that over the past decade has won at an 80% clip. A year ago the Flying Dutch posted a 23-4 record, marking the seventh consecutive season that Hope has had a 20-plus victory campaign.
Co-captains of the team are senior Bria Ebels of Holland, Mich. (Holland HS), senior Linda Ebels of Falmouth, Mich. (Northern Michigan Christian HS), junior Julie Henderson of Grand Haven, Mich. (Grand Haven HS), and senior Megan Noll of Lake Orion, Mich. (Lake Orion HS).
Other returning letterwinners include sophomore Jordyn Boles of Grand Rapids, Mich. (Forest Hills Central HS), junior Becky Bosserd of Sparta, Mich. (Lowell HS), senior Jennie Intveld of Carson City, Mich. (Crystal HS), junior Sarah Jurik of Mesick, Mich. (Mesick HS), senior Joanne Stweart of Big Rapids, Mich. (Big Rapids HS), sophomore Stacy Warsen of Cutlerville, Mich. (GR South Christian HS), and junior Ellen Wood of Naperville, Ill. (Waubonsie Valley HS).
Four returning players started in every game last season -- Bria Ebels, Jordyn Boles, Linda Ebels and Julie Henderson. Bria Ebels and Linda Ebels have been in the starting lineup every game since their sophomore year. Five other returning players -- Ellen Wood, Sarah Jurik, Megan Noll, Jennie Intveld and Stacy Warsen -- each averaged double-digit minutes of playing time.
Bria Ebels is a two-time All-MIAA first team honoree. She had led the team in scoring the past two years. As a freshman, Boles shot a school-record .449 from three-point range, making 44-of-98 from outside the arch.
Sophomore Lindsay Lange of Manistee, Mich. (Manistee HS), an NCAA track All-American last spring, moves to the varsity after a year on the jayvee team.
Freshman players on the varsity include Brieann Bryant of Farwell, Mich. (Clare HS), Courtney Knox of Mattawan, Mich. (Mattawan HS), Kaitlyn Kopke of Haslett, Mich. (Haslett HS), and Kate Reincke of Eaton Rapids, Mich. (Eaton Rapids HS).