Maddie Petroelje dropped 3-pointers like snowflakes for the nationally-ranked Hope College women's basketball team on Saturday.
The sophomore matched her career-high with six 3s during a 90-48 victory against Saint Mary's College on Saturday during Community Day at DeVos Fieldhouse.
Petroelje (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) also set a career-best with 23 points in 19 minutes of action, the most points scored by a member of the Flying Dutch this season.
Hope (t-9th WBCA/No. 11 D3hoops) led from start to finish en route to raising its record to 14-2 overall and 7-1 in MIAA play.
Petroelje helped the Flying Dutch jump to a 22-10 first-quarter lead in other ways, then blasted the Belles (6-11, 1-7 MIAA) with 21 points over the final three quarters. It's emblematic of her diligent work to overcome ankle surgery to become well-rounded on the court, head coach Brian Morehouse said.
"Maddie is one of the truly best-skilled players that we've had at Hope … but when she was in high school, she was a shooter. She didn't really guard people in high school and really didn't look inside the 3-point line." Morehouse said. "I think that when she came to Hope, she committed to development: post-up moves, scoring off the dribble, getting fouled and being a great defensive player, somebody that we could rely on.
"She became more than a shoote; she became a basketball player and she is now a complete basketball player. Everyone wants to focus on her shiny objects, which are her 3s, but I really appreciate that she's committed to developing her whole game.
Petroelje grabbed five rebounds and blocked a season-best two shots against Saint Mary's. The forward didn't miss many shots either, shooting 72.7% from the field (8-13) and 66.7% from 3-point range (6-9).
The performance marked the eighth time in nine games Petroelje scored in double figures. Hope finished with a season-best 13 3s as a team.
The Flying Dutch shot 51.6% from the field (33-64) and totaled 20 assists, their second-highest total of the season.
Freshman guard Josie DeSmit (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) and junior guard Terin Maynard led the unselfish effort with six and four assists, respectively.
Two other Flying Dutch scored in double figures: sophomore forward Leah Richards (DeWitt, Michigan / Lansing Catholic) with 13 points, eight of which came during the first quarter.
Sophomore guard Anna Richards (DeWitt, Michigan / Lansing Catholic) added 12 points. Senior forward Sydney Vis (Byron Center, Michigan / South Christian) chipped in nine.
Saint Mary's received a team-best 17 points from guard Annie Restovich.
Hope's next game is Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. at home against Kalamazoo College.