KALAMAZOO - The Kalamazoo College women's basketball team gave third-ranked Hope College (18-0 / 7-0 MIAA) all it could handle on Wednesday, but in the end Hope prevailed, 56-52. Kalamazoo led 27-25 at halftime.
Kalamazoo shot 36.4 percent from the field while Hope shot just 28.5 percent. Hope held a 45-33 rebounding advantage, and had six less turnovers (15) than Kalamazoo. Hope scored 22 points off 21 Kalamazoo turnovers.
Vanessa Larkin led Kalamazoo with 14 points, but her potential game-tying shot with less than 10 seconds left in the game was blocked. Alissa Johnston and Amanda Weishuhn each finished with 13 points. Ashley Riley had a team-high 10 rebounds with three blocked shots.
Hope was led by Amanda Kerkstra's 22 points, 13 rebounds, and five blocked shots. Colleen Corey added nine points for the Flying Dutch. Linda Ebels added eight points and eight rebounds off the bench.
Kalamazoo (11-6 / 5-2 MIAA) travels to Calvin College on Saturday.
Updated: 1/29/03