ANGOLA, IND.-- The Trine women's basketball team will open the season this weekend with a pair of games at the Franklin College Tip-Off Classic.
The season opens Saturday night as the Thunder take on Ohio Northern. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. Trine concludes their performance in the Tip-Off Classic with a 3 p.m. game against Muskingum on Sunday. The Thunder were picked to finish eighth in the MIAA by the league coaches in the conference's preseason poll. This season will be the team's first under new head coach Ryan Gould, who takes over the reigns of the program after serving as an assistant last season. The Thunder are coming off a 6-19 season.
Trine returns four players with starting experience, led by senior point guard Kelsey Henselmeier (Martinsville, Ind./Martinsville). Last season, Henselmeier led the team in averaging 11.7 points and 2.7 assists per game. Alivia Recker (Arlington, Ohio) added 9.3 points per contest. Kayla Dunn (Columbia City, Ind./Columbia City) and Katelyn Sager (Kell, Ill./Salem Community) also return with starting experience.
Other key returners from last season's playing rotation include Taylor Cole (Mount Pleasant, Mich./Shepherd), Laura Rosekrans (Williamston, Mich./Williamston), and Sarah Miller (Elkhart, Ind./Jimtown).
The Thunder will be looking for big contributions from newcomers, with 10 new players joining the varsity roster this winter. The incoming class includes six freshman. Three newcomers stand six-foot or taller, giving the team some much-needed size.
The conference season opens Wednesday, Dec. 3 when Trine hosts Kalamazoo at 7:30 p.m. Other highlights on the schedule include trips to face Division-I foes Western Michigan and IPFW.
For the complete schedule, click HERE.