No. 22/No. 23 Hope 80, Carthage 52
HOLLAND, Mich. - The Carthage women's basketball team traveled to Michigan on Friday to compete in the Hope College Michelle Schoon Classic. The Firebirds opened the weekend by taking on the nationally ranked host squad, the Hope Flying Dutch. The Firebirds battled hard but the Flying Dutch found a way to pull away and claim the win over Carthage.



Hope got the scoring started in the first quarter with a layup from Sydney Vis and followed it up with a pair of free throws from Leah Richards to take an early 4-0 lead. Nora Ahram got the Firebirds on the scoreboard with a three pointer. A layup from the Flying Dutch and a three from Cathage's Alyssa Orozco tied the game at 6-6 with 6:15 to play in the quarter. Another three from Orozco gave the Firebirds a 9-6 lead before an 8-0 run for the Flying Dutch would give the home team a 14-9 lead at the end of the period. Orozco led the Firebirds with six points in the quarter.

The Flying Dutch got the scoring started in the second quarter, extending the lead to eight points before a three-pointer from Whitney Thompson cut the Firebirds deficit to 17-12. The two squads traded baskets over the next five minutes, which featured five points from Malia Green. The Flying Dutch proceeded to go on a 9-0 run over 1:47 to take a 34-22 lead at the half.

A 4-0 run for the Flying Dutch extended the lead to 16 points to start the second half, before a three from Orozco made the score 38-25 with 8:20 to play in the third quarter. A layup from Green and eight points from Thompson brought the Firebirds within nine points of the lead, but a 15-point run for Hope left the Firebirds trailing 61-37 to end the third quarter. 

The Flying Dutch outscored the Firebirds 19-15 in the fourth quarter and came away with an 80-52 win at home.


 

• Alyssa Orozco - 16 points 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 steal
• Whitney Thompson - 11 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal

"We knew tonight was going to be a challenge, as Hope is always a tough opponent," said Head Coach Megan Jones. "We really struggled with their length and played timidly. There were some bright spots throughout but we're disappointed in that showing because we know we are better than that. We got it to 9 halfway through the third quarter but they became the aggressor the rest of the way. There's a lot to learn from that game but we have to move on quickly and bounce back tomorrow against Franciscan."



The Firebirds (2-2) return to action on Saturday, Nov. 22 at the Hope Tournament as the squad faces off against Franciscan at 1 p.m. EST in Holland, Mich. Carthage women's basketball returns to Tarble Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 25 as the Firebirds host Coe at 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.