GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—The Trine women's basketball team took advantage of a strong fourth quarter to notch a 54-46 victory over Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association conference opponent Calvin on the road Saturday afternoon.
With the victory, Trine wins its fourth game in a row to improve to 18-2 overall and 11-1 MIAA. The 11 conference wins represent a program-best mark since joining the MIAA in 2004. Calvin is 18-4 and 9-4 in league play.
Sophomore Brandi Dawson (Garrett, Ind./Garrett) led the Thunder with 18 points and six rebounds, while freshman Katy Steers (Portage, Ind./Portage) added 14 points to tie a career-high. Hayley Martin (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb) and Taylor Cole (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Shepherd) each added six points, while Cassidy Williams (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold) scored five and added three assists.
Ali Spayde paced the Knights with 15 points, while Anna Timmer earned a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Trine and Calvin were tied, 8-8, after the first quarter of play. The Knights held a 23-19 edge heading into halftime. Steers led the Thunder with seven points in the first half, and Dawson added six. Spayde notched eight points for the Knights.
The Knights continued to hold the lead in the third and increased their advantage to six with four and a half minutes left in the quarter. A three pointer by Steers and a jump shot by Dawson brought the Thunder within a point, but Spayde grabbed a layup to give Calvin a three-point lead.
Steers and Dawson combined for four quick points to open the fourth quarter and the Thunder went on a nine point run to take the lead. Trine held tough and outscored the Knights 23-12 in the quarter on its way to victory.
Dawson led the Thunder in the second half with 12 points, while Steers added seven. Cole added her six points in the second. Martin grabbed seven rebounds for the Thunder. Timmer led the Knights with nine points in the second, while Spayde had seven.
The Thunder continues road action on Wednesday night when it travels to Adrian. The start time for the Pink Zone Game has been moved to 6 p.m.