Hope (Mich.) 75, Capital 56 [Box Score]

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Hope College made 15-of-21 first half shots then ran away from Capital University in a 75-56 win in the second round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship at The Capital Center in Columbus, Ohio.

Hope wins its 26th game in a row to move its record to 29-1 on the season and advance to next week’s sectional round, while a 10-game win streak and Capital’s season ends at 26-4.

The Flying Dutch made seven of their first nine shots to take a 16-5 lead 5:45 into the game. Hope would then stretch the lead to 15 points, 28-13, on an Ellen Wood layup with 8:32 left in the half. Hope took an 11 point, 38-27, lead into the locker room then scored the first five points of the second half as a Linda Ebels free throw made it 43-27 with 18:22 to play. The Crusaders rallied with an 11-2 run capped by a Heather McAlpin jumper to close to within seven, 45-38, with 13:18 left but got no closer as Hope went on to the 19 point win.

Bria Ebels had 24 and Julie Henderson 22 to pace Hope.

Kati Todd scored 20 of Capital’s 27 first half points and went on to score a season-high and game-high 29 points. Sara Heitkamp had 13 points while her and Jennifer Lilly each had a game-high 10 rebounds.