ALBION, Mich.-- A dominating first half and a stifling defensive effort led Trine to a 64-42 victory over Albion in MIAA-action Wednesday night in Kresge Gymnasium.
The Thunder held the Britons to a 25 percent shooting effort from the field (14-of-55). First half spurts of 12, nine, seven, and two six-point runs paced Trine to a 41-14 halftime lead. Whitney Shaffer (Tipton, Ind./Tri-Central) scored 18 points in just 20 minutes of action, knocking down 7-of-10 from the field and 4-of-6 from long-distance. Nikky Moan (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove) added 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Trine improved to 13-8 overall, and now has a two-game lead for fourth place in the MIAA with a 7-5 league mark. The Thunder clinched a winning regular-season with the victory. Albion fell to 11-9 overall, 5-7 in the MIAA.
Eleven different players scored in a balanced scoring effort for Trine. The Thunder hit 23-of-51 from the field (45 percent), including 6-of-13 from long range (46 percent). Trine held the Britons to 20 points below their season average.
Mikaela Bromley scored nine points to pace Albion. Erin Nelson added eight points. The Britons hit just 4-of-20 (20 percent) from three-point range.
A 12-0 Thunder run broke open the game early. Moan and Alivia Recker (Arlington, Ohio/Arlington) each scored four points in the run to open up a 17-4 lead with 10:07 to play in the first half. After a Briton bucket, Trine scored seven more in a row to open up a 17-point lead.
Moan and Shaffer combined for six-straight points to push the score to 30-9 with 5:34 to play in the first half. Trine would go on to lead by as much as 28 in the first half, and 29 in the game.
Shaffer scored 12 of her points in the first half, helping the Thunder shoot 53 percent (16-of-30) in the opening 20 minutes. Moan added eight of her points in the first half. Trine held the Britons to just a 19 percent (5-of-26) effort from the floor prior to halftime.
Trine gets their bye this Saturday before returning to action next Wednesday, Feb. 11 at Olivet. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.