KALAMAZOO, Mich.-- The Trine women's basketball team blew past Kalamazoo to earn a 78-42 victory over the Hornets in MIAA-action Saturday afternoon at Anderson Athletic Center.
The Thunder dominated defensively, holding Kalamazoo to a 25 percent shooting clip (13-of-52). The defensive effort resulted in the lowest shooting percentage allowed by Trine this season. Brandi Dawson (Garrett, Ind./Garrett) paced the offensive effort with 17 points on an 8-of-13 effort from the floor. Ten different players scored for the Thunder. Grace Smith scored 12 points to pace the Hornets. Trine improved to 12-7 overall, 5-6 in the MIAA. Kalamazoo fell to 6-14 overall, 3-8 in conference play.
Taylor Cole (Mount Pleasant, Mich./Shepherd) also reached double figures for the Thunder with 11 points. Whitney Shaffer (Tipton, Ind./Tri-Central) added nine points off the bench, while Laura Rosekrans (Williamston, Mich./Williamston) scored a season-high eight points. Shaffer and Rosekrans were part of a Trine bench that contributed 32 points.
Trine forced Kalamazoo into 22 turnovers while committing just 11. The Thunder converted those Hornet miscues into 23 points. Trine shot 44.9 percent (29-of-65) overall.
The Thunder controlled the action from the opening tip as they never trailed. Trine scored 15 of the first 17 points of the contest, opening up a 15-2 lead with 2:11 to play in the first quarter. Dawson carried the offense in the early-going, scoring 11-straight points to go on a personal 11-0 run midway through the quarter. The sophomore hit 5-of-7 shots in the opening quarter.
The defense paced the effort in the early going, holding the Hornets to just one made field goal in the opening quarter. A scoring burst from Shaffer helped push the score to 32-9 with 5:18 to play in the first half. Trine's lead never shrank below 20 the rest of the game.
The Thunder return to action Wednesday, Feb. 3 at Saint Mary's. Trine will enter the game in fifth place in the MIAA and will be looking to climb into the top four of the standings by the end of the season to earn a conference tournament berth. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.