ADRIAN, Mich. - The Bulldog women's basketball team got its second semester off to a hot start last week, winning the first two contests of the new term for the first time since the 2011-12 season.

Now, this week, the black and gold (5-8, 2-3 MIAA) face, undoubtedly their tallest task of the year when they travel to Holland, Michigan to challenge the number one team in Division III women's basketball, Hope College.

The Flying Dutchmen (11-0, 3-0 MIAA) are actively in the midst of the NCAA's longest winning-streak, most recently sealing win No. 56 on December 29 versus Central (Iowa).

Returning All-Americans and All-MIAA First-Team honorees Olivia Voskuil and Kenedy Schoonveld pace the nation's second-highest scoring offense with 11.6 and 10.5 points per outing, respectively. Voskuil, a senior, also leads the team on the glass, corralling 5.6 boards per game.

Fellow senior Kate Majerus is another key contributor for the Dutchmen, not only dishing out a team-high 2.8 assists per game, but also topping the conference with both a 0.648 field goal percentage and a 0.588 three-point field goal percentage.

As a team, Hope is one of only four schools in Division III to boast a 90-plus scoring average, having cracked the 100-point threshold three times so far this season. On the defensive side of the ball, the team ranks fourth in the nation in scoring defense (46.8), sixth in total steals (199), and ninth in turnovers forced (303).

Historically, Adrian has not faired well against the Flying Dutchmen. In fact, each of the last 30 meetings between the two programs have gone in favor of Hope.

This latest match-up will go down at Hope's DeVos Fieldhouse on Wednesday evening at 7:30 P.M. Live stats and video will be available.

Then, on Saturday afternoon, the 'Dogs close out their four-game road trip in Grand Rapids against Calvin.

The Knights (9-5, 2-3 MIAA) saw their five-game win-streak snapped at the hands of Albion last Wednesday.

Gabby Timmer has been a standout leader for Calvin throughout the season, currently leading the team and the conference in points per game (19.9) and rebounds per game (10.1). She is the only women's basketball player in the MIAA averaging a double-double.

The next highest scorer for the Knights is Leah Harris (10.6 ppg), who returned to the line-up on December 21 after missing seven games between mid-November and early-December.

In Calvin's loss to Albion, the junior posted a team-best 21 points on a 7-of-19 showing from the floor, and 6-for-6 effort from the foul line.

The weekend match-up between the Bulldogs and the Knights will be the first in Grand Rapids since January 4, 2020. In the books, Calvin has won three consecutive against Adrian. The locals' last win in the series came back on January 26, 2019. However, Adrian's last win at Calvin's Spoelhof Fieldhouse was way back in February of 2008.

Live stats and video will be available for Saturday's contest.

The Bulldogs garnered back-to-back huge performances from their leading scorer Chelsea Palmer last week. The senior averaged 17.5 points and 10.5 rebounds over 45 total minutes of action.

On the season, Palmer currently ranks third in the conference with a 13.6 scoring average, complimented by a fifth-ranked, 7.5 rebounding average.

Makayla Clement, who recorded a double-double against Olivet last Wednesday, sits with the team's second-highest scoring mark at 8.1 points per contest. While the freshman thrives offensively, she also ranks second on the team in total blocks and total rebounds, and first in total steals.

For fans who plan on attending either of this week's women's basketball games, please be aware of Hope College's and Calvin University's policies regarding spectators at sporting events.