OBERLIN, OHIO-- Trine jumped all over Oberlin early and controlled play throughout to earn a 63-43 victory in non-conference action Saturday afternoon at Philips Gym.
The Thunder opened the game on a 21-6 run and only trailed once early to earn their second-consecutive victory by 20 or more points. A swarming Trine defense forced 21 turnovers, which the Thunder converted into 21 points. The defensive effort also resulted in the Yeomen shooting just 28 percent (15-of-53) from the field. Kayla Dunn (Columbia City, Ind./Columbia City) led four Trine players in double-figures with 14 points. The senior added four steals on the defensive end. The Thunder improve to 2-1. Oberlin falls to 2-2.
Whitney Shaffer (Tipton, Ind./Tri-Central) reached double-figures for the first time in her Trine career, scoring 13 points. She knocked down 3-of-6 from three-point range. Kelsey Henselmeier (Martinsville, Ind./Martinsville) turned in a complete effort with 11 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Alivia Recker (Arlington, Ohio/Arlington) came off the bench to add 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
Trine outrebounded Oberlin by a 46-39 advantage, including a 31-19 edge in the first half. The Thunder outscored the Yeomen 36-20 in the paint.
Eleanor Van Buren came off the bench to score 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting to lead Oberlin. Lindsey Bernhardt, Christina Marquette, and Katie Lucaites entered the game averaging a combined 44 points per game, but the Thunder were able to hold the trio to a combined eight points on 3-of-16 shooting.
The Yeoman scored the first two points of the game, but after buckets by Emily Whiteleather (Columbia City, Ind./Columbia City) and Henselmeier, Trine would never trail the rest of the afternoon. A jumper and a three by Shaffer pushed the score to 9-2 early.
That start was part of a run that saw Trine open up a 21-6 lead with 8:11 remaining in the first half. The Thunder held Oberlin scoreless for a span of 6:54 as they pushed an 11-6 lead into the 15-point advantage. The Thunder led by as much as 20 in the first half.
The Yeoman closed the deficit to 45-35 when Abby Andrews hit a layup with 11:05 to play. That was as close as they would get however, as Shaffer answered with another three to jump-start a a 14-4 surge that restored a 20-point lead for Trine. That run put the game out of reach.
The Thunder continue their four-game road swing to open the season when they travel to Anderson (Ind.) next Saturday, Nov. 29. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.