ADRIAN, Mich. - After battling back from a 20-point deficit to take a lead late in the second half, the Trine University women’s basketball team fell in the final minute to Adrian College 51-48. The loss drops the Thunder into a four-way tie for the fourth and final seed in the MIAA tournament with a 5-8 record and an 11-11 overall record.
It took a few minutes for the teams to get going, but once they did the baskets came quickly. After Adrian hit a three, Trine quickly answered with back-to-back jumpers by senior Sydney Spragg (Reading, Mich./Reading). The Bulldogs would hit another three to regain the lead before the Thunder went on a 6-0 run.
Trine’s lead quickly vanished though as Adrian went on an 11-0 scoring run to take a 17-11 lead with 8 minutes and 14 seconds to play. Trine would hit a free throw to end the scoring drought, but Adrian would close the half with a 17-4 run to lead 34-16 as the Thunder failed to hit a field goal in the final 14:38 of the half.
The Thunder managed to shoot just 20% (5-of-25) in the first half while the Bulldogs hit 14-for-35 (40%) in the period.
The tides quickly turned in the second half as the Thunder scored the first seven points en-route to a 15-3 pace to cut the lead to just six points less than five minutes into the period. After Adrian hit a layup, senior Megan Loveberry (Quincy, Mich./Quincy) hit a shot from long range before freshman Alivia Recker (Arlington, Ohio/Arlington) may a layup off a fast break to pull the Thunder within one at 39-38.
With 9:23 to play, Spragg would hit a pair of free throws to give Trine their first lead since 10:33 of the first half. The lead would be short lived though as Adrian quickly hit a jumper to re-take the lead. It would be nearly 4 minutes before another point was scored as Spragg hit yet another jumper to give Trine a lead before Adrian would tie the game at 44 on a free throw.
After both teams hit a pair of jumpers, Adrian would take a two-point lead with 1:19 to play. Both teams would then have an opportunity to score, but were unable to as the Thunder were forced to foul and send Adrian to the line. After Adrian hit a pair of free throws, senior Haley Killingbeck (Poneto, Ind./Southern Wells) would make a layup with 7 seconds left in the game to pull back within two.
Trine would foul the Bulldogs on the ensuing inbounds pass. After the Adrian shooter missed the second free throw, the Thunder were unable to gather the rebound as time expired.
Spragg led all scorers with a game-high 25 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the floor and a perfect 8-for-8 form the free throw line. Spragg also grabbed seven rebounds and made two steals. Killingbeck was the only other Trine player to score in double-figures with 10 points while pulling down a game-high nine rebounds and four blocks. Loveberry led the Thunder with a game-high four assists and also had five rebounds.
All five starters for the Thunder recorded a block in the game.
Trine will return home on February 9 to host Albion for a 1:00 p.m. game.