HOLLAND, Mich. — The unbeaten Hope women's basketball team looked to advance to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Division III tournament. However, the Dutch trailed Illinois Wesleyan by as many as nine with under five minutes left in the game.
That is until Kenedy Schoonveld and the Dutch battled back, finishing the game on a 14-2 run to advance, 72-69.
"This is the moment that we are hitting adversity," junior Kenedy Schoonveld said, "This is the moment that we got to stay together. And whatever happens, just stick together and so at that point we were just going balls out for each other and we were okay with what happens at that point. Win or lose those are my girls and we are going to go out and battle together."
Schoonveld had a team-high 20 points in the comeback victory, including the game-winning layup with 30 seconds left.
"We had a great start and led, 13-4," head coach Brian Morehouse said, "and we had a great finish, 14-2. In between those, I thought Illinois Wesleyan outplayed us. The whole way they just took it to us, other than those two runs and so we are very grateful to get the win."
The Dutch will take on Baldwin Wallace in the Sweet 16 on Friday.
