Angola, Ind. – Trine defeated Olivet, 87-50, in its Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association conference opener Saturday afternoon in Hershey Hall.
The Thunder's offense was connecting on all cylinders. Fifteen players for Trine scored in the game. Hayley Martin (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb) led the offense with 19 points (6-of-7 shooting) and helped on the defensive side with two blocks and two steals. H. Martin's two blocks tied her for fifth in team history. Brandi Dawson (Garrett, Ind./Garrett) and Katy Steers (Portage, Ind./Portage) each had 13 points in the game. Steers' 13 points was a career high. Dawson and H. Martin have scored in double figures in every game this season. Trine dominated inside of the paint with 50 points to Olivet's 14. The Thunder's lockdown defense held the Comets to shooting 31.3 percent (15-of-48) overall and forced 17 turnovers.
Trine improves to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in MIAA play. The Thunder has won four straight games. Olivet falls to 0-6 overall and 0-1 in MIAA play.
Jillian Nickels led the Comets offense with 18 points. T'Keyia Collins helped on the defensive side with three blocks, one steal and five defensive boards.
The Thunder went to work right away in the first quarter, going on a 14 point run over the Comets to get the quick double-digit lead. H. Martin paced the offense with 11 points in the first quarter. Trine's defense scored 14 points off Olivet's seven turnovers. Trine led Olivet 24-12 going into the second quarter.
H. Martin continued her scoring campaign in the second quarter, totaling 17 points in 14 minutes of play at halftime. H. Martin's scoring in the paint contributed to Trine outscoring Olivet 22 to eight in points in the paint. Trine's defense held the Comets to shooting 38.1 percent (8-of-21) overall in the first half, where the Thunder was shooting 55.6 percent (15-of-27) from the floor. The aggressive defense by Trine in the first half allowed them to convert 22 points off Olivet's 12 turnovers. The Thunder led the Comets 45-26 going into halftime.
Opening up the second half Trine continued where it left off in the first half by expanding its lead over the Comets in the third quarter. The Thunder, after three quarters of play, was shooting 59.1 percent (26-of-44) overall. Trine led Olivet 70-37 going into the final quarter.
Trine's women's basketball returns to action Wednesday, Dec. 6 when the Thunder travels to Saint Mary's for a MIAA conference game. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Article courtesy Cody Konieczki, Trine University, Communications New Media '17
