Flying Dutch coach Brian Morehouse gets milestone win in rout of Olivet

In pursuit of a milestone victory for coach Brian Morehouse, the Hope College women’s basketball team went to work the same way it does every game.

The Flying Dutch, ranked No. 4 in the nation by the ESPN/USA Today Division III coaches poll, played the kind of fundamental basketball their coach preaches and gave Morehouse his 300th career victory with a 73-42 win over Olivet College Saturday at DeVos Fieldhouse.

“I am blessed to be here,” Morehouse said. “I have had a lot of help along the way. I wasn’t even sure I had what it takes to be a women’s coach.”

Morehouse’s 300th victory comes against 57 losses, giving him a win percentage of .840 — third best in Division III.

Since his 200th victory in 2005, the Flying Dutch are 100-8, a win percentage of 93.

This season, Hope is 12-1 overall and 6-1 in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

The Flying Dutch tied idle Saint Mary’s (Ind.) College for first place in the league standings.

“It felt good to just give him some credit,” junior guard Philana Greene said. “Sometimes, people just think we have a talented team, but I never knew so many details go into basketball. I am glad we could get him No. 300.”

Morehouse’s style of fast, fundamental basketball was apparent from the opening tip when sophomore center Carrie Snikkers tipped the ball right to Greene, who scored a quick layup.

Greene then took a charge on Olivet’s first possession.

“(Snikkers) tips it to (Greene) and we were instantly up 2-0,” Morehouse said. “Then she took that charge. That’s the kind of player she is. There are a lot of really good players who don’t like to take charges.”

But that is the intensity that translates on the court through Morehouse’s coaching style.

“(Morehouse) wants us to come out and play as hard as we can from the opening tip,” Greene said.

The Flying Dutch kept it up, taking a 12-2 lead behind two putbacks from senior forward Courtney Knox and two more baskets from Greene.

Knox finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Greene scored 10 and had three steals. Jenny Cowen scored 11 points for the Flying Dutch and Snikkers grabbed seven rebounds.

Hope’s second unit didn’t let up as Erika Bruinsma scored 11 of her game-high 14 points in the first half and sophomore Rachael Kutney grabbed 10 rebounds to give Hope a 38-15 lead at halftime.

Then it was a countdown to No. 300. Morehouse’s daughters, Megan and Emma, held up a sign with “300!” on it with about five minutes to go in the game.

“My daughters are wonderful, and so’s my wife,” Morehouse said. “She is the only one who knows what I go through every day. I don’t normally look over there during the game, but I saw it with about 2 minutes to go. Plus, I got to do this with my dad.”

Dean Morehouse, Brian’s father, is an assistant coach. The former Fremont High School basketball coach has been on Hope’s staff since 2000.

“I have probably been here for over 200 of (Brian’s victories),” Dean said. “I am so proud of him.

“The thing that is so great is that we get great players, who buy into team defense and what Brian teaches. The relationships we have with the players mean so much more. It’s a family concept. The wins take care of themselves.”