WBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association

[scottiedawg]

Hate seeing injuries. Both Sydney Vis (Hope) and Sami DeKuiper (Calvin) went down with concerning looking injuries last night.

[AlwaysHope]

Hope vs. Wittenberg starts just over one hour.  You will see a familiar face in their starting lineup:  Karsen Karlblom #32, who started for Hope last year.  This year she is shooting 11.4 PPG, tied as the leading scorer of the Tigers' WBB team.  She is shooting 52.2% from the field, including 45.2% beyond the arc.

[pointlem]

Hope vs. Wittenberg starts just over one hour.  You will see a familiar face in their starting lineup:  Karsen Karlblom #32, who started for Hope last year.  This year she is shooting 11.4 PPG, tied as the leading scorer of the Tigers' WBB team.  She is shooting 52.2% from the field, including 45.2% beyond the arc.

Saw that and, without knowing the story behind her transfer, was pleased to see her post-game hugs with Hope players and Coach Morehouse.

[AlwaysHope]

Who was the other Hope WBB sophomore that started last year but did not come back?  Anybody know why?

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Who was the other Hope WBB sophomore that started last year but did not come back?  Anybody know why?

That would be Keegan Kaiser - but I do not know any of the specifics about why she is not on the roster this year.  It doesn't appear that she is playing elsewhere, based on a Google search.

Impressive defense by the Dutch yesterday, holding a good Wittenberg team to 45pts.  A really close game in the 2nd - Witt scored at the 5:34 mark to take a 20-19 lead, and then Hope just simply went off on both ends of the court.  Thru the rest of the 2nd and up to 3:45 left in the 3rd, Hope went on a 23-2 run to lead 42-22. 

Side note - I really despise pay-per-view for D3 sports, but if you are going to do that, you HAVE GOT to have the game clock on the screen.  The single camera was OK, announcers fine, but no clock - I mean come on!!!

[scottiedawg]

Tomorrow's Hope @ Trine game should be a great one!!

As well coached teams do, both teams have only gotten better since the season started.

In my simulations, 4-loss Hope/Trine teams both make the NCAA Tournament a majority of the time—so tomorrow is not a must-win type of game.

However, a 2-3 loss Hope or a 1-2 loss Trine could absolutely be in line to host opening weekend, so that is probably the main thing (NCAA Tournament-wise)" on the line tomorrow.

[TUAngola]

Tomorrow's Hope @ Trine game should be a great one!!

As well coached teams do, both teams have only gotten better since the season started.

In my simulations, 4-loss Hope/Trine teams both make the NCAA Tournament a majority of the time—so tomorrow is not a must-win type of game.

However, a 2-3 loss Hope or a 1-2 loss Trine could absolutely be in line to host opening weekend, so that is probably the main thing (NCAA Tournament-wise)" on the line tomorrow.

Trine comes away with a 76-66 victory over Hope this afternoon.  A nice win for the Thunder as they shot the ball pretty well hitting 52% of their shots.  Sidney Wagner had a terrific all around game, 21 pts, 10 reb, and 6 assists.  Hope was led by Bellows with 16 and the Richards sisters, Anna with 15 and Leah with 10.  Those girls are going to be a handful down the road, very polished for freshmen, are they twins??  Angola HS product Lauren Leach with a nice second half for the Flying Dutchmen.  It was like old times with Trine's Jada Rhonehouse guarding Lauren as they played against each other in high school as Jada played up the road at Fremont. It was a tight game thru 3 periods, but Sierra Hinds has a big 4th quarter to propel the Thunder to a win.  It was the first win in Angola against Hope in I think 6 years or so.  Hope has had our number at Trine, but the Thunder in turn always play well in Holland.  Rematch on February 15th.  It was a hard fought well played game by both.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Tomorrow's Hope @ Trine game should be a great one!!

As well coached teams do, both teams have only gotten better since the season started.

In my simulations, 4-loss Hope/Trine teams both make the NCAA Tournament a majority of the time—so tomorrow is not a must-win type of game.

However, a 2-3 loss Hope or a 1-2 loss Trine could absolutely be in line to host opening weekend, so that is probably the main thing (NCAA Tournament-wise)" on the line tomorrow.

Trine comes away with a 76-66 victory over Hope this afternoon.  A nice win for the Thunder as they shot the ball pretty well hitting 52% of their shots.  Sidney Wagner had a terrific all around game, 21 pts, 10 reb, and 6 assists.  Hope was led by Bellows with 16 and the Richards sisters, Anna with 15 and Leah with 10.  Those girls are going to be a handful down the road, very polished for freshmen, are they twins?? Angola HS product Lauren Leach with a nice second half for the Flying Dutchmen.  It was like old times with Trine's Jada Rhonehouse guarding Lauren as they played against each other in high school as Jada played up the road at Fremont. It was a tight game thru 3 periods, but Sierra Hinds has a big 4th quarter to propel the Thunder to a win.  It was the first win in Angola against Hope in I think 6 years or so.  Hope has had our number at Trine, but the Thunder in turn always play well in Holland.  Rematch on February 15th.  It was a hard fought well played game by both.

Yes, they are twins (won a MHSAA state title their junior season) and will indeed be (already are) a handful. 

[scottiedawg]

From what I've seen (could be some very good FR buried on the depth chart on some very good teams), Hope WBB's Freshmen class is the best in the nation. (Petroelje listed as FR so assuming she has 4 years of athletic eligibility remaining).

[sac]

The Richards girls graduated from Lansing Catholic High School, two years ago they beat an outstanding and higher ranked Haslett team in districts and went on to win the state championship.  Haslett had 1 loss that year prior to LCC vs Rockford who won the Division 1 state championship that year. 

Last season LCC made it to the regional final before losing a close one to Tecumseh, who they had beaten in the Regional the year before.




This year Lansing Catholic is not fielding a varsity basketball team due to low numbers.  Pretty incredible.

[TUAngola]

From what I've seen (could be some very good FR buried on the depth chart on some very good teams), Hope WBB's Freshmen class is the best in the nation. (Petroelje listed as FR so assuming she has 4 years of athletic eligibility remaining).

Honestly Hope's second 5 (which included the Richards twins and Petroelje) played much better than the starting 5 against Trine.  Garner never did get into the flow of the game, not sure why.  Trine has a good freshman class too, but right now only two of them are in the rotation, guard Zoe Willems and forward Hailey Cole.  They each scored 6 points against Hope.  Cole is very physical, has good touch around the rim.  Willems will be the heir apparent to replace Wagner in the starting lineup next year.  Willems can penetrate very well and has good moves around the rim, but hasn't shot it well from outside yet.  They don't need to be major scoring options as much for Trine this season, but will definitely be counted on to score more next season.  

[pointlem]

TUAngola, wow, Trine was amazing, besting Hope 80 to 63 on 53% shooting and a 42 to 29 rebounding advantage against the taller Dutch, for whom there was a lid on the basket today. That third quarter--where Trine, with super hot shooting, scored 29 points against Hope's legendary defense--was the best women's BB performance I've seen at Hope this winter, and more than enough to overcome Hope's perfect 21 for 21 at the free throw line (I don't recall a free throw even touching the rim).

And Sidney Wagner surely will be league MVP? It's not just her shooting (9 of 13 and 23 points) that impressed, but her amazing quickness and ball handling, which enabled her 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 steals as well. An All-American-level performance.

A class act after-game moment. I love that Hope's women's and men's coaches both, in the post-game handshakes, make a point of congratulating opposing players who have had exceptional games. Today Coach Morehouse, after the exchanges, took Sidney aside for a full minute giving his extended congratulations (I inferred) for her exceptional game and career. That was the DIII athletic spirit--of mutual respect after competitive play--at its best.

[scottiedawg]

Buckle up Hope fans!

Hope either needs to win the MIAA tournament, or probably get some help from the rest of the nation to make the NCAA Tournament.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Semi-finals tonight in Angola:

Hope vs Calvin
D3datacast predicts: Hope 68 Calvin 56
Massey predicts: Hope 67 Calvin 57

Albion @ Trine
D3datacast predicts: Trine 72 Albion 47
Massey predicts: Trine 67 Albion 50

[Flying Dutch Fan]

All MIAA awards announced:  https://miaa.org/news/2025/2/27/all-miaa-womens-basketball-2025.aspx

Most Valuable Player
Sidney Wagner, Trine (2)

Defensive Player of the Year
Sidney Wagner, Trine

2025 Women's Basketball All-MIAA First Team
Olivia Bellows, Hope (2)
Emma Cooke, Albion
Anna Fernandez, Calvin
Jada Garner, Hope (2)
Erin Sherwood, Trine
Sidney Wagner, Trine (3)
 
2025 Women's Basketball All-MIAA Second Team
Morgan Babb, Adrian
Ruby Hogan, Kalamazoo
Katelyn LaRue, Calvin
Brooke LeRoux, Alma (2)
Anna Richards, Hope
Katie Tate, Trine
(#) Number of multi-time All-MIAA, including career first- and second-team honors