Holland, MI – Alma College Women's Basketball braved the elements to travel to Devos Fieldhouse on Saturday, taking on the Flying Dutch of Hope College in MIAA play. It was heartbreak for the visitors, as Alma came up one make short of upsetting the #5 team in DIII women's hoops.
Hope scored first to open the game, and it took Alma 3 minutes to answer. As the first quarter progressed, it became clear that the teams came to play defensively. One edge that Alma held was in the discipline department. The Scots committed 0 fouls in the opening period, and worked on the glass to outrebound Hope 12-9. At the end of one, Alma found themselves tied at 13-13.
Things remained airtight in the second quarter. The Scots jumped out to a 20-13 lead, but Hope strung together a solid couple of baskets to chip back into things. Alma continued to limit the Flying Dutch from the floor, holding Hope to 3 of 13 from the floor, just 23.1%. The home side did their work on the defensive end of the floor as well, holding Alma to just 13 points in the frame. However, that 13 was more than Hope's 12, and the Scots ended the second quarter as just the second team this season hold a halftime lead over Hope at Devos, 26-25.
In the third period, Alma became the second team to hold Hope to a single digit scoring quarter. The Scots defense was smothering, holding Hope to just 9 points on 3-12 shooting. The Scots were everywhere, grabbing 9 rebounds to Hope's 5. Alma surrendered the lead briefly at 33-30, but regained it moments later, and took a 40-34 advantage into the fourth quarter.
The fourth saw both teams finally bring the offenses to life. Hope awoke, scoring 20 points on 7-16 shooting, and Alma tied their highest offensive output with 14. As it came down to the wire, Hope led 52-51 with 42 seconds to play. This lead increased to 54-51 with 20 seconds to go on free throws. Alma needed a big shot, and hitting it was
Breckyn Werner, who had missed a big three just moments prior. At 54-54, another Werner three just rattled out at the buzzer. The teams headed to OT all tied up.
After 34 combined points in the fourth, just 16 combined were put in by the two teams. Alma scored first on a
Taylor Sas layup, and Hope responded with a pair of good foul shots. It was punch and counter punch. Hope knocked down a three, Sas answered, minutes later another three by the home side, Alma answered with a free throw, and a driving layup. Hope had the last look, but missed. Tied a 62, it would be 5 more minutes of free basketball.
The second overtime saw the floodgates open. Hope shot 70% from the floor, and Alma was finding the same success at 71%. There was a pattern of one team scoring, and the other answering the call immediately. Things finally opened up as Hope took a 5-point lead late. However, Alma never gave in. In the final moments, the Scots trailed 79-77, and a last second heave by
Brooke LeRoux from downtown fell just short, as Hope escaped with the win.
Taylor Sas (23 Points, 6 Rebounds, 4 Assists)
Brooke LeRoux (20 Points, 8 Rebounds, 4 Assists) and
Maddie Robbins (13 Points, 6 Rebounds, 3 Steals) were a few of the many who gave absolutely everything in the loss.
The heartbreaking loss drops Alma to 7-9, and 3-4 in MIAA play. Alma travels to Kalamazoo on the 16
th.
