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Hope's defense paved the way for an impressive win
over UW-Whitewater |
No. 7 Hope passed its biggest test of the season by dominating No. 16 UW-Whitewater 63-52 in a weekend tournament called the Post-Exam Jam.
After the teams traded baskets to start the game, Hope (8-0) held UW-Whitewater scoreless for eight-plus minutes and opened a 14-2 lead. The Flying Dutch's suffocating defense held the Warhawks to nine first half points and forced 22 turnovers in the game. Hope's starting front court outscored the Warhawks' 35-14, led by Courtney Kust's 18 points and six rebounds. UW-Whitewater finishes the first semester 8-3, but 4-0 in conference.
The other matchup of ranked teams was even more lopsided. No. 12 UW-Stevens Point rolled over No. 18 Illinois Wesleyan 84-49. The Pointers used 18 players and the Titans 14 in the second half of the blowout.
Christopher Newport (7-0) handled Mary Washington 51-40 to stay unbeaten. Camry Green led the way for the Captains with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Christopher Newport, which will join the Capital Athletic Conference next season, is now 3-0 against members of that conference this season.
Playing its first game in 10 days, No. 3 Calvin showed some early rust but the Knights shook that off and beat St. Mary's (Ind.) 77-56. Amanda Turner scored 21 points in 20 minutes on seven three pointers and No. 2 Mount Union defeated Otterbein 77-62.
No. 17 Simpson held off UW-River Falls 67-62 to improve to 9-0. The game was tied at 61 with less than two minutes to play and neither team scored a field goal the rest of the way. But the Storm converted six of eight free throw attempts and pulled away for the win.
Baruch is off to its best start in program history. The Bearcats (8-0) built a big lead and held off Rutgers-Newark 73-67. Juniata lost at home for the first time in 22 regular season games as St. Vincent topped the Eagles 66-62. Melissa Mansur had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Bearcats.