GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Cornerstone looks to keep their undefeated home season alive with a non-conference home game vs. division three opponent Hope College. CU will tip off against The Dutch at 1 p.m. on Saturday for the first matchup between these two teams since December of 2008.  Live stats, video, and audio will be available through the Cornerstone Sports Network (CSPN).

Date: Saturday, November 26
Time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Location: Grand Rapids, Mich. (Mol Arena)
Internet Coverage: Live Video/Audio/Stats
 
Scouting Hope
The Dutch have been a machine offensively averaging a staggering 96.0 PPG through their first four appearances. Last time out Hope improved to 4-0 with a 107-65 victory over Rochester tying a school scoring record. Hope brings a very balanced roster to the table with five seniors, six juniors, and a trio of both sophomores and freshman. Hope College is a NCAA DIII opponent and they are one of ten members who compete in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Post play is how The Dutch like to play, with sophomore forward Francesca Buchanan leading the way with 17.8 PPG and 8.0 RPG. Ball movement is another key component to the Hope offense. as the team averages 14.5 assists per game with Angelique Gaddy leading the team at 5.3.
 
History vs. The Dutch
Cornerstone has a very short history vs. Hope College playing the Holland based team just three times since the year 2000. CU is 1-2 in those three games winning the first appearance 79-60 all the way back on December 7, 2000. The last appearance between the two teams came in 2008 where the Golden Eagles traveled to Holland and fell 76-69.
 
Last Week Recap
The Golden Eagles completed another 1-1 record last week. CU defeated Marygrove to improve to 3-0 at home and fell to Concordia on the road for their first conference loss. CU is now 4-3 on the year and 2-1 in WHAC play, as they look to keep their undefeated home record alive when they face DIII Hope College over the holiday weekend.
 
Van Ham Breaks Out
Senior center Alyssa Van Ham has had limited playing time in her career, but that changed in a hurry breaking out for 14 points and 14 rebounds through two games. Van Ham recorded her first career double-double on Wednesday in a win over Marygrove with 10 points and 12 rebounds followed by four points and two rebounds at Concordia on Saturday. Van Ham is the first Golden Eagle to record a double-double since Jill Steenwyk had a 10 point 10 rebound game on January 20 of last season vs. Aquinas.
 
History on Turkey Weekend
Under head coach Katie Mattera, Cornerstone has played on the holiday weekend three of her four years and gone 1-2 in that time. CU had the holiday off last year, but previously played a home and home series with Indiana Wesleyan going 0-2 in both those matchups. In Mattera's first year at head coach, the Golden Eagles traveled to conference opponent Marygrove and earned their only win on the Saturday following Thanksgiving.
 
What's Next?
Cornerstone will return to conference play for five straight WHAC games after their meeting with Hope College. Next on the docket is a home game against rival Aquinas before hitting the road for Indiana Tech and Lourdes. CU has three more non-conference games left after Hope as they will host Saint Francis of Indiana on December 20 before playing No. 5 Saint Francis of Illinois and Bethel College in the Christmas Holiday Tournament hosted by Davenport.
 
13 of 15
Depth has been a key component to the Golden Eagle offense as 10 players average above 10 minutes of play. In the Cornerstone win over Marygrove, 13 of the 15 girls on the roster managed to contribute in the scoring colum.
 
Scoring 87
CU put up 87 points in their win over Marygrove recording a season high. The Golden Eagles have not scored more than 87 points since the end of the 2014-15 season when they upset No. 25 Madonna 89-66. The highest point total for Cornerstone in coach Katie Mattera's reign came on February 22, 2014 when CU blew out Lawrence Tech 92-62 in Mol Arena. 
 
Women's Basketball Contact: Jesse Campbell | Nathan-jesse.campbell@cornerstone.edu
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