CINCINNATI, Ohio – To say the Capital University women's basketball team opened the 2011-12 season on a high note would be accurate, but considering its opponent, maybe a bit of an understatement.

Fueled by a tenacious defense and timely baskets and free throws down the stretch, the Crusaders soundly defeated perennial national powerhouse Hope 62-53 in a non-conference affair at the College of Mount St. Joseph Women's Basketball Tip-Off Tournament.

Sophomore guard Cookie Geroski (Fostoria, Ohio) scored 15 of her team-high 18 points in the first half to lead Capital, which forced 24 turnovers while shooting 15-of-18 (83.3 percent) from the free throw line. Senior Hilary Kuhns (Fairfield, Ohio; at right) added 14 points, eight rebounds, six assists and five steals, while classmate Shalena Hawkins (Cincinnati, Ohio) tallied 12 points and five rebounds.

"We're just ecstatic," Geroski said. "Last year we started in a tournament like this in Indiana, and we came back 0-2, and it was a downer. It was just a bad way to start the year. Hope is a phenomenal team, and for us to come out and play as a team all-around was awesome."

The Crusaders (1-0) shot 47.9 percent from the field to offset 24 turnovers of their own.

The Flying Dutch (1-1), who entered the contest ranked No. 19 in the D3hoops.com Coaches Top 25 Poll, converted eight 3-pointers but were held to 37.7 percent shooting from the field.

Capital frustrated Hope in the first half with its high-intensity defense, leading for almost the entire period before entering the locker room with a 28-23 advantage. Geroski helped keep the Crusaders ahead with a variety of jumpers, dribble drives and layups, converting 7-of-8 attempts.

"Once we got the ball moving and ran our plays, everything kind of came together and we got some opportunities," Geroski said.

The Crusaders took a 42-28 lead with 15:09 to play in the second before the Flying Dutch clawed their way back to make it a one-possession game with just over three minutes remaining. Capital responded with eight critical free throws down the stretch, including four from junior Stacy Timmerman (New Bremen, Ohio), who scored all 10 of her points after the half and hit a key jumper in the lane to stretch the Capital lead to 54-47 with 1:16 on the clock.

"In the second half, we got into some foul trouble, but we were all there to pick each other up," Geroski said. "We just told each other, 'hey, this happens, let's shake it off and keep going.' I just can't say anything else … it was a great team effort."

Capital scored 22 points off turnovers, compared to 12 for Hope. The Crusaders finished with 16 steals as junior Rebekah Will (Millbury, Ohio) and sophomore Jamie Caton (Hilliard, Ohio) finished with three apiece behind Kuhns' team-high five.

The Crusaders resume tournament play tomorrow in the championship game at 3 p.m. against the winner of the Ohio Wesleyan/Mount St. Joseph contest.