Albion College Sports Information Student Assistant
HOLLAND, Mich. – The Albion College women’s basketball team reversed the trend Thursday, Feb. 26, as it defeated Hope College 63-47 at the Dow Health & Physical Education Center in a semifinal of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association tournament.
Hope had defeated Albion in the semifinals the past two years en route to three consecutive MIAA tournament championships. But this time, it was Albion’s turn.
In a back-and-fourth battle, the Britons used great defense and solid ballhandling to take the lead from the Flying Dutchmen and eventually put the game away in the final five minutes. Hope couldn’t come from behind to nip the Britons like it did in the regular season game at the Dow.
With five minutes remaining and the Britons up 50-41, Albion went on a decisive 8-0 run over three minutes to essentially put themselves in the MIAA tournament championship game Saturday, Feb. 28 at Calvin.
The Britons went 6 of 8 from the free-throw line during the run and also got a basket from senior forward Jocelyn Zappala.
Albion stuck it to the Flying Dutchmen on defense, holding them to just 15 field goals and 28.3 percent shooting from the field. The Britons didn’t shoot much better, hitting just 32.8 percent of their shots, but they took better care of the basketball.
Albion committed just eight turnovers to 16 for Hope. The Britons converted Hope’s giveaways into 18 points while Hope scored just six points off Albion’s turnovers.
Junior guard Sarah Caskey recorded a double-double for the Britons, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Sophomore guard Jaime Fornetti and first-year forward Ruthie Sventickas added 11 points apiece.
The game featured just 16 total assists, nine by Albion and seven by Hope.
The Britons got many of their points on second-chance opportunities as they turned their 21 offensive rebounds into 23 points. Overall, Albion outrebounded the Flying Dutchmen 41-31.
Hope maintained a single-digit lead for much of the first half until a Caskey three-pointer tied the game at 19 with 7:53 remaining. The Britons took the lead for good three minutes later at 23-21 on a jumper by Fornetti off a steal by senior forward Angie Spain.
The Britons ended the half on an 11-4 run, aided by baskets from four different players, to take a 30-23 lead into the locker room.
Albion’s lead stayed under 10 points until a Spain jumper with 6:12 left put the Britons up 50-39. Just minutes later, Albion used the 8-0 run to ice the game.
Adelynn Vimann led Hope with 15 points. Bria Ebels added 11.
The Britons improved to 22-5 with the win. The Flying Dutchmen fell to 23-4.
ALBION COLLEGE(22-5) Sarah Caskey 4-15 8-9 19; Jaime Fornetti 3-12 4-4 11; Ruthie Sventickas 5-9 0-0 11; Jocelyn Zappala 3-8 1-2 7; Vanessa Thompson 3-9 0-0 7; Angie Spain 2-7 0-0 4; Erin Hearn 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 20-61 17-21 63. HOPE COLLEGE (23-4) Adelynn Vilmann 5-14 5-5 15; Bria Ebels 4-11 0-0 11; Linda Ebels 1-9 4-4 6; Ashley Plowman 2-3 0-0 5; Kelly Taylor 1-5 2-2 5; Lauren Jensen 2-4 0-0 5; Gracia Kamps 0-2 0-0 0; Megan Noll 0-5 0-0 0. Totals 15-53 11-11 47. Albion College 30 33 - 63 Hope College.................. 23 24 - 47 3-point goals-Albion College 6-24 (Sarah Caskey 3-8; Jaime Fornetti 1-6; Ruthie Sventickas 1-1; Vanessa Thompson 1-5; Erin Hearn 0-1; Angie Spain 0-2; Jocelyn Zappala 0-1), Hope College 6-16 (Bria Ebels 3-7; Kelly Taylor 1-2; Ashley Plowman 1-1; Lauren Jensen 1-3; Megan Noll 0-2; Adelynn Vilmann 0-1). Fouled out--Albion College-Ruthie Sventickas, Hope College-Linda Ebels. Rebounds-Albion College 41 (Sarah Caskey 10), Hope College 31 (Linda Ebels 7). Assists-Albion College 9 (Sarah Caskey 3), Hope College 7 (Ashley Plowman 3). Total fouls-Albion College 12, Hope College 18. A-500