TIFFIN, Ohio-- The Trine women's basketball team picked up a key road victory, taking down Heidelberg 77-70 in non-conference action Saturday afternoon at Seiberling Gymnasium.
The Thunder held a big advantage inside, outscoring the Student Princes 29-10 in the paint. Brandi Dawson (Garrett, Ind./Garrett) continued her streak of having scored in double-figures in every game of her Trine career. The sophomore scored a game-high 19 points and added a game-high nine rebounds. Marisa Liburdi scored 14 points to lead Heidelberg and knocked down 5-of-7 from the field. The Thunder have now won three-straight games. Trine improved to 6-3 overall. Heidelberg's record evened at 5-5.
Whitney Shaffer (Tipton, Ind./Tri-Central) provided an important spark off the bench for the Thunder, scoring 18 points and knocking down 4-of-7 from three-point range. Shaffer racked up that total in just 15 minutes. She has knocked down four threes each of the last two games and is shooting 50 percent from deep in that span.
Alivia Recker (Arlington, Ohio/Arlington) also reached double-figures with 11 points on 5-of-10 from the floor. Taylor Cole (Mount Pleasant, Mich./Shepherd) scored eight points, dished out a career-high six assists and came away with four steals. Cole is averaging 5.3 assists per game over the last three wins.
Trine shot 45 percent (28-of-62) from the floor and turned 22 Heidelberg turnovers into 30 points. The Thunder committed just 12 turnovers themselves, which led to just six points for the Student Princes.
After a slow start, both teams offenses hit their stride in the second quarter as they combined for 48 points. Dawson did the majority of her damage in that quarter, scoring 12 points and hitting all three of her field goal attempts. She also knocked down 5-of-6 free throw attempts. Each team shot over 60 percent from the field in the quarter. Trine held a 26-22 advantage to take a 40-31 lead into the half.
Shaffer heated up in the second half, scoring 10 of her points after halftime. A three by Shaffer closed out the third quarter to give the Thunder a 56-46 advantage entering the final 10 minutes.
Another Shaffer three pushed the lead to 13, but Heidelberg rallied back to keep the game close into the closing minutes. A 14-2 run closed the score to 61-60 midway through the quarter. Five straight points for Hayley Martin (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb) and five-straight for Dawson kept the Thunder in front.
A Nicole Payne three cut the score to 73-70 with 25 seconds left, but Shaffer and Ashley Elliott (Scottsburg, Ind./Scottsburg) each knocked down a pair of free throws to seal the victory.
Allie Hawkins scored 12 points off the bench for Heidelberg. Theresa Jackson added 10 points.
Trine returns to action Wednesday, Dec. 30 against Machester. The Thunder host the Spartans at 5 p.m. in Hershey Hall.