The Flying Dutch (29-1) are playing in the NCAA Division III tournament for the fifth year in-a-row and for the 12th time in school history. The Flying Dutch were national champions in 1990 and 2006 and advanced to the Elite Eight each of the last two years (2008 and 2009). Hope has an all-time record of 22-9 (.710) in NCAA games.

Hope's only defeat of the season was on December 28th to Carthage 51-47 in a tournament at Oglethorpe, Ga. Carthage (24-4) is also in the Sweet Sixteenfield. Hope has a 20-game winning streak.

Three of Sectional teams were ranked in the top ten of last week's USA Today/ESPN Division III Coaches' Poll -- #3 Illinois Wesleyan, #4 Hope, and #7 Marymount. UW-Stevens Point received honorable mention recognition.

Hope has no previous women's basketball history with any of the three other teams in the Sectional.

How the Teams Got to the NCAA Sectional at IWU

* Hope College (29-1), located in Holland, Mich. (enrololed 3,230), won the regular season and tournament title of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association to gain an automatic berth. The Flying Dutch have advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the third straight year following victories over Denison (21-7) and DePauw (68-54).

* Marymount (28-1) is located in Arlington Va. (enrollment 4,100), are appearing in the NCAA tournament for the 16th time. The Saints are 17-17 in NCAA games. Their only final four appearance was in 2002 when they finished fourth. Marymount advanced to the Sweet Sixteen with victories over Scranton (57-41) and Medaille (74-44). Marymount played Adrian of the MIAA in the regular season defeating the Bulldogs 66-58 in a holiday tournament game in Florida. The Saints will play with some added emotion as head coach Bill Finney will be retiring after this season. In 27 seasons, he has 553 career wins and a .733 winning percentage.

* Illinois Wesleyan (28-1) is located in Bloomington, Ill, (enrollment 2,200), an estimated 255 mile drive from Holland, Mich. Making their seventh appearance in the tournament, the Titans are 7-6 all-time in NCAA games. The Titans have yet to advance to the final four. Illinois Wesleyan will be hosting the 2010 final four the weekend following (March 19-20). Hope faced a similar circumstance each of the last two years, advancing to the Elite Eight, but unable to get to the final four they were hosting in Holland. The Titans advanced to the Sectional with victories over Franklin, Ind. (76-52) and Simpson, Iowa (66-53).

* UW-Stevens Point (23-6) is located in Stevens Point, Wisc. (enrollment 8,645). Making their seventh appearance in the tournament, the Pointers are 18-5 in NCAA games. The Pointers were national champions in 1987 and 2002 and finished fourth in 2004. Stevens Point advanced to the Sectional with victories over Minnesota-Morris (86-64) and St. Norbert, Wisc. (78-67).

The Hope/Marymount game features teams that emphasize defense. Marymount allows just 46.8 points per game while Hope yields only 51.4... Marymount's Amanda Billy has made 92 three-pointers. Hope's highest is 31 by Liz Ellis.

The Flying Dutch over the past four seasons have a 111-8 cumulative record. The only seniors on this year's Hope team are starters Philana Greene (5-9 forward from Grandville, Mich.) and Jenny Cowen (5-9 guard from Dexter, Mich.). Greene, who was named the Defensive Player of the Year in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), has set a Hope single season record for steals (101) and is the Hope career leader for steals (317). She has become the sixth Hope player to surpass 100 assists in a season. She has 107 this year, raising her career total to 319. Cowen ranks third all-time at Hope in three-point baskets with 138 behind Jordyn Boles 218, 2004-08; Bria Ebels, 188, 2002-06; and Nicki Mannes, 155, 1991-95.

Philana Greene and junior Carrie Snikkers (6-3 post from Jenison, Mich./Unity Christian HS), were named to the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) all-conference first team. Snikkers was honored for the second straight season and Greene for the second time in her career (2008 and 2010). Snikkers missed eight games this season with a stress fracture in the foot. She leads the team in scoring (13.2 ppg) and rebounding (7.2 rpg). With six blocked shots against DePauw in the tournament's second round, she has set a single season record of 61. Snikkers held the old mark of 59 in 2008-09.

For the second year in-a-row junior Carrie Snikkers (6-3 post from Jenison, Mich./Unity Christian HS) was named to WBCA All-Region team. She is one of 40 finalists for Division III All-America recognition. She received All-America recognition as a sophomore.

Hope has won 20-or-more games for 12 straight years. In 14 seasons under coach Brian Morehouse the Flying Dutch are 345-59 (.854).

The Flying Dutch posted an 20-0 record at Hope's DeVos Fieldhouse this season. The Flying Dutch will enter the 2010-11 season with a 61-game home floor winning streak. Their record at DeVos Fieldhouse since the opening is 2005-06 is 80-1.

Stat Shorttakes: Junior Rachael Kutney (St. Claire Shores, Mich./Lakeshore HS) is shooting .569 (70-123). It would rank third all-time for a season. The record is .597 (80/134) by Lindsay Lange, 2006-07... Freshman Liz Ellis (East Grand Rapids, Mich.) is shooting .431 (31/72) from three-point range. It would rank fourth all-time for a season. The record is .510 (25/49) by Sarah Jurik, 2005-06.

Hope Stat Rankings in Division III (424 teams) prior to NCAA Sectionals: #2 in steals per game at 16.2 (Farmingdale State leads at 20.6)... #4 in scoring margin at 23.3 (Amherst leads at 28.2)... #5 in 3-Point FG Defense at 24.3% (Mount St. Mary, N.Y. leads at 22.8%... #4 in blocked shots per game at 6.3 (Kean leads at 7.4)... #9 in turnover margin at 7.3 (Farmingdale State leads at 14.48)... #8 in field goal percentage defense at 32.2% (Mount St. Mary, N.Y. leads at 267%... #9 in scoring defense at 51.4 ppg (Mt. St. Mary, N.Y. leads at 43.4)... #15 in scoring offense at 74.7 ppg (Centenary, N.J. leads at 83.0).

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