ALMA, MICH. -- The Trine University women's basketball team used a 42-point second half to extend an eight-point halftime lead and cruise to a 75-46 final against Alma (Mich.) College in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association opener in Alma, Mich.
The Thunder had an all-around impressive shooting day with a 52.7 percent (29-of-55) overall percentage, including 46.2 percent (six-of-13) from three-point range and an impressive 91.7 percent (11-of-12) at the free-throw line.
Trine had two players score in double figures, led by junior Brandi Dawson (Garrett, Ind./Garrett) with a game-high 19 points on eight-of-10 shooting (80.0 percent). Senior Haley Martin (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb) was second in scoring with 16 points and fell a rebound shy of a double-double, but still grabbed a game-high nine boards.
Trine (7-0, 1-0 MIAA) never trailed in the game and scored the game's first seven points, with four points coming from Hayley Martin. Alma (0-5, 0-3 MIAA) then scored four straight points to get to within three points, 7-4, at the 6:53 mark of the first quarter. A three-pointer by freshman Camille Lira (Murrieta, Calif./Rosary Academy) then sparked a 13-2 Thunder scoring run to make the score 20-6 with 1:23 to play in the period. The Scots ended the quarter with a little momentum of their own by scoring seven consecutive points to cut the deficit in half, 20-13, after the first 10 minutes.
The lead remained single digits for Trine until just under the four-minute mark of the second quarter when the Thunder went up by a more comfortable 11 points, 29-18, following a jumper by Dawson. Alma rallied again with six straight points to make it a five-point game, 29-24, with 25 seconds left in the half. Trine ended the half with a three-pointer by senior Ashley Elliott (Scottsburg, Ind./Scottsburg) to take a 32-24 advantage at halftime.
Trine led by six points, 34-28, with 7:42 to play in the third quarter when the Thunder took control with an 11-2 run that ended in a pair of freebies from junior Shelby Oldham (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) for a 17-point margin, 45-28, with 2:34 remaining. The visitors maintained their double-digit lead the rest of the period and took a 49-36 edge into the fourth quarter.
The final quarter belonged to Trine as the Thunder outscored the Scots, 26-10. Alma knocked the Trine lead down to 11 points, 51-40, within the first minute of the period, but back-to-back layups by junior Cassidy Williams (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold) and a jumper by Haley Martin increased the lead back to 17 points, 57-40, with 6:16 left in the game. The Thunder lead was never threatened the rest of the way and went on post their largest lead of the game of 29 points with the final score of 75-46.
Trine will next travel to Kalamazoo, Mich. for a MIAA matchup against Kalamazoo College on Wednesday, Dec. 6. The game is set to begin at 6 p.m.