By Mark Simon

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Hope women’s basketball coach Brian Morehouse preached to his team that Saturday’s contest, for the national championship, was just another game, and it was that philosophy that would bring out the best in his players.

The Flying Dutch lived up to their nickname, racing up the floor, hustling for loose balls, scrapping when necessary and most importantly, playing with the relaxed mindset that enabled them to win their last 30 games. That culminated with a national championship, and a 69-56 victory over Southern Maine before a sellout crowd at Blake Arena.

Bria Ebels, a D3Hoops.com All-America selection, led the Flying Dutch in scoring with 18 points. Julie Henderson added 12 and Sarah Jurik came off the bench to score 11.

To win its first national title since 1990, Hope defeated the top four teams in the last D3hoops.com Top 25 poll, beating Southern Maine, Scranton, DePauw and Washington University, all away from home to conclude a trip that began in November, with Morehouse reading a book to his name- “Oh The Places You’ll Go.” He didn’t know it at the time, but that was an omen for the season. The author of that book, Dr. Seuss, was a native of Springfield.

“We enjoyed the journey,” Morehouse said. “We played the best of the best to win it. It’s pretty special I had a real sense of calm today. I slept well. I said to one of my assistant coaches that I didn’t have any butterflies. I felt we were ready.”

Hope’s readiness was a huge factor in this game, as the size of reserves Ellen Wood and Lindsay Lange wore down Southern Maine, combining for 15 points and 14 rebounds in 34 minutes. Southern Maine’s bench scored just two points.

“There was no end to them,” said Southern Maine forward Ashley Marble, an All-Tournament selection, who was held nine points below her average to just eight points. “It seemed like they got bigger every time they came in.”

Ebels hit the game’s biggest shot, a 3-pointer with just over three minutes remaining, extending Hope’s lead to 58-50. Henderson followed with a steal and a basket that basically put the game away. The Flying Dutch had the lead for the final 15-and-a-half minutes, taking it for good on free throws by Jurik, who scored four straight points in a mini-run that was typical of how Hope played all weekend.

“Sarah embraced the moment,” Morehouse said. “I told her before the tournament to be ready, that she was going to be a difference maker.

Hope finished at 33-1, one game better than the national runners-up. Southern Maine got valiant efforts from seniors Megan Myles (23 points) and Katie Frost (13 points), but couldn’t match the speed, quickness, or size of Hope. In the end, nobody could.

“We got beat by as good a team in Division III as I’ve seen,” said Southern Maine head coach Gary Fifield. “They’re athletic, they have great size and great depth. I think they would beat a lot of Division I teams. That’s as good a team as I’ve seen and I’ve been around for a few years.”