OLIVET, Mich.-- The Trine women's basketball team dominated the second half to earn a 62-42 victory over Olivet in MIAA-action Wednesday night at Cutler Event Center.
After facing a five-point halftime deficit, the Thunder outscored the Comets 39-14 over the final two quarters to earn the victory and sweep the season series. Trine held Olivet to 5-of-24 shooting (20.8 percent) in the second half. Hayley Martin (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb) scored a game-high 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting to pace the Thunder. The victory gives Trine its second winning-streak of six games this season.
Trine has clinched a postseason berth and can earn the No. 3 seed in the MIAA Tournament with a win Saturday. The Thunder improved to 17-7 overall, 9-6 in the MIAA. The Comets fell to 12-12 overall, 8-7 in the MIAA.
Martin scored 11 of her points in the second half to help the Thunder hold a 20-8 scoring advantage in the paint over the final 20 minutes. Cassidy Williams (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold) and Taylor Cole (Mount Pleasant, Mich./Shepherd) each added nine points. Trine turned 18 Comet turnovers into 19 points.
Bre Kidd and Shauni Hankins each scored 10 points to pace Olivet. The Comets shot 28 percent from the field (13-of-46) and hit 14-of-16 (87.5 percent) free throws.
Olivet got the free throw line often in the first half to take a 28-23 lead at the break. The Comets knocked down 11-of-12 free throws in the first 20 minutes. Hankins scored all 10 of her points prior to the half.
A 9-2 run over the first 4:54 of the third quarter gave Trine its first lead of the second half. Four points from Cole and two points each by Williams and Brandi Dawson (Garrett, Ind./Garrett) tied the score before a jumper by Martin gave the Thunder a 32-30 lead with 5:06 to play.
Trine never trailed again after a driving layup by Whitney Shaffer (Tipton, Ind./Tri-Central) made the score 34-32 with 3:23 to play in the third. The Thunder would push its lead to 44-35 at the end of three as Martin scored five of Trine's last seven points in the stanza.
The Thunder would shut out the Comets over a span of 8:09 in the final quarter as Trine scored 16-straight over that span to seal the victory. The Thunder forced seven turnovers and five missed field goals over that time frame.
Trine closes out the regular-season Saturday, Feb. 20 when the Thunder host Alma at 1 p.m. in Hershey Hall. The game is part of Hoopla Community Day, during which the team will honor its senior class. For more information on Community Day, CLICK HERE.
