ALBION, MICH.-- Trine's women's basketball team came up short in a game of runs, falling to MIAA-foe Albion 56-50 Saturday afternoon at Kresge Gymnasium.
After the Thunder used a 12-0 run to tie the score at 37 in the second half, the Brits hit back with a 16-2 spurt and held on late to earn the victory. Kelsey Henselmeier (Martinsville, Ind./Martinsville) led the way for Trine with 15 points and six assists. Henselmeier has scored in double-figures in five of the last six contests. Brett de Bear led Albion with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Trine falls to 3-11 overall and 0-5 in the MIAA. Albion improved to 6-8 overall and 2-3 in conference play.
Kayla Dunn (Columbia City, Ind./Columbia City) scored a career-high 13 points for Trine. It was the first time the junior has scored in double-figures in her Thunder career. Megan Engle (Parker City, Ind./Monroe Central) provided a spark off the bench with 10 points on 5-of-11 shooting. The Thunder shot 30 percent from the field (19-of-64).
Emily DeWaters notched 14 points and seven rebounds for Albion. Olivia Savage added 12 points, hitting 3-of-4 three-point attempts and 3-of-4 free throws. The Brits shot 43 percent from the field (18-of-42) and 67 percent from the free throw line (16-of-24).
Neither team was able to get much seperation during the first half, as Albion went to the break with a 29-25 lead. The second half turned into a game of runs, with the Brits scoring the first eight points of the second half to open up a 37-25 lead with 18:02 to play.
That's when the Thunder responded with their 12-point run to knot up the score. Alivia Recker (Arlington, Ohio/Arlington) scored four of her six points during the run, while Dunn added four points of her own. Henselmeier and Katelyn Sager (Kell, Ill./Salem Community) each added a pair of free throws during that stretch, which concluded with teams knotted at 37-all with 13:58 remaining.
Albion hit right back with their big 16-2 run to push the score to 53-39 with 6:35 to play. de Bear took over for the Britons during that stretch, scoring nine points. DeWaters added four points. The run gave Albion enough cushion to withstand a late Trine run that pulled the Thunder within 53-50 with 32 seconds left. The Thunder would get no closer, as Albion forced a turnover and two missed threes while connecting on 3-of-4 free throws to close it out.
Trine returns to action Wednesday, Jan. 15 when they host Alma at 6:00 p.m. in Hershey Hall. The game is part of a doubleheader, with the men following with a game against Kalamazoo.