Hope College women's basketball coach Brian Morehouse fastest to 700 wins in NCAA history

HOLLAND - As the clock ticked down to zero at DeVos Fieldhouse, the feeling for the Hope College women's basketball team was like it is on a regular basis - a winning feeling.

It happens so regularly that some of the quiet wins become milestone wins.

Saturday's win over Alma College was not quiet, nor regular as it was the 700th career win for Hope coach Brian Morehouse and Hope needed double overtime to get it - 79-77.

"It was awesome and it was hard," Morehouse said.

Morehouse is the fastest to 700 in NCAA history in all divisions and genders, doing so in 795 games (.880 win percentage) since the 196-97 season. He is 700-95, and sits fourth all-time in Division III victories.

Hope showed a video on the scoreboard after the game as fans put up their "700" signs. Messages flowed in from players who played between win No. 600 and 700, including his daughter Meg, who was in the stands with her mother Liz and sister Emma.

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"It was so special. All of those people took time out of their lives to come here and play basketball, and also took time to record those messages. That is pure (Courtney) Kust (associate head coach). She is so genuine," Morehouse said. "It was a special day. We haven't had many milestone wins at home (just 500 has been at DeVos).

"I don't think people understand the challenge this puts on a family. The things that my wife Liz has sacrificed so I could be a college coach are monumental. And our kids sacrificed not going on some vacations or not being at all of their games. It is pretty amazing, but it takes a toll. There is only one person that has been there for every single win - Liz."

Plus a bonus video from Michigan State coach Tom Izzo congratulating Morehouse on 700.

"Congrats on 700. I am trying to get there and you kicked my butt!" Izzo said.

His Hope teams have two NCAA championships and another NCAA runner-up finish - and a two-year undefeated team that finished 2020 and 2021 with the No. 1 ranking, though there was no tournament because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

No. 700 was tougher than anticipated as Alma played elite basketball and led most of the game.

In the second overtime, Hope's Sydney Vis scored 11 points and Karsen Karlblom nailed a 3 (after a couple in the first overtime) and Terin Maynard hit a late free throw to provided the difference.

"It is amazing. It is so great to be here for this moment. We were uptight in the first couple quarters and it took us two extra periods fo really get there as a team," Vis said.

Though his career record was 31-23 through his first two seasons, Morehouse was the fastest to 600 wins as well, set in 690 games in 2020. His teams have won 19 MIAA championships and made 21 NCAA tournament apperances. He has won the national coach of the year four times.

Morehouse has seen the women's game grow from playing on one side of the gym in the Dow Center - where he had to wheel out the bleachers - to DeVos Fieldhouse where Hope has led the NCAA Division III in attendance every year.

"Who has it better than we have?" Morehouse said. "The best part about 700 is people want to talk about me and I get to talk about everyone else. I get to talk about Michelle Sterk Schoon, Colly (Carlson), Kust, Kristen Slotman, all of our coaches that have been with me here."

For all the success, it was a job Morehouse turned down twice at age 25 after coaching the Hope men's junior varsity.

"I turned it down because I wasn't ready for it," he said. "But the cool thing is I have never thought twice about it since then. I love where I am at and haven't had an itch to leave. The game is as healthy as it has ever been."

This year's group - a squad of all new starters - is 15-1 and 7-0 in the MIAA.

"He just genuinely cares for us off the court. He checks in on us and is always there for us," Vis said. "We are not just basketball players to him and that is why it has worked for 28 years and why he is such a great coach."

The Record Book

The NCAA Division I record is LSU's Kim Mulkey, who reached 700 wins in 813 games. Mulkey's record broke that of UConn's Geno Auriemma (822) games, and previously Kentucky's Adolph Rupp (836 games).

Morehouse is fourth on the all-time Division III wins list. All-time leader Andy Yosinoff from Emmanuel (Mass.) is the leader with 906.

The Game

Hope trailed most of regulation.

Hope's Jada Garner opened the second half with a 3-pointer and but the back-and-forth continued and Alma led 40-34 after three.

Chloe Brunsburg tied it 44-44 with a layup after a 3 from Olivia Bellows.

The back-and-forth continued with Terin Maynard putting Hope up 54-51 with 24 seconds remaining only to have Alma's Breckyn Werner tie it with a 3 to send the game to overtime.

In the first overtime, Karsen Karlblom hit two 3s for Hope, but Taylor Sas answered both and the game went to a second overtime.

"They are just tough, and they outplayed us," Morehouse said.

Hope men beat Adrian

The Hope men's basketball team defeated Adrian 91-62 on the road.

Tabber Wiegerink scored 18, Gabe Quillan had 13, Justice Mims scored 12 and TJ McKenzie had 10 in a balanced attack for Hope (12-3, 4-0 MIAA). Quillan had nine rebounds and Marcus Wourman had five assists. McKenzie had four steals.

Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as  Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.