FORT WAYNE, Ind.-- The Trine women's basketball team battled IPFW in an exhibition contest Friday, but fell to the Mastodons 82-62 at the Gates Center.
The meeting served as an opportunity for the Thunder face Division-I competition in a preseason setting and several players were able to take advantages of the opportunity. Junior Taylor Cole (Mount Pleasant, Mich./Shepherd) came off the bench to score a team-high 11 points and grab a team-high six rebounds. The junior finished 3-of-6 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. Returning All-MIAA performer Whitney Shaffer (Tipton, Ind./Tri-Central) also reached double figures with 10 points, knocking down a pair of three-point field goals in the process.
Trine started three newcomers and saw several new faces contribute off the bench. Hanna Smith (Ossian, Ind./Norwell) showed a soft touch from long range, knocking down 3-of-4 three-point attemps for a nine-point effort. Sophomore Hayley Martin (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb) also added nine points.
Freshman Shelby Oldham (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) drew the starting assignment at point guard and dished out three assists, while sophomore Brandi Dawson (Garrett, Ind./Garrett) added four points in a starting role.
Senior Alivia Recker (Arlington, Ohio/Arlington) provided the Thunder with a strong veteran performance off the bench with eight points and five rebounds. Recker, Cole and Smith paced an effort that saw the Trine bench produce 35 points.
Trine shot 39 percent from the field (22-of-56) and hit 11-of-14 attempts (78.6 percent) from the free throw line. The Thunder also knocked down seven treys.
Kamilah Carter scored 16 points to lead the Mastodons. Josie Fisher (14 points) and Selena Lozada (13 points) also reached double-figures for IPFW. The Mastodons shot 52 percent from the field (30-of-58) and knocked down 7-of-15 (47 percent) from long-distance. IPFW held a 40-20 edge in points in the paint.
Due to NCAA scheduling rules, the Mastodons were able to count the contest as a regular-season game. IPFW is 1-0 on the season.
Trine opens the regular-season this Sunday, Nov. 15 against Franklin. Tip-off inside Hershey Hall is scheduled for 2 p.m.
