KALAMAZOO, MICH. -- The Trine University women's basketball team held Kalamazoo College to just 29 points in an 85-29 blowout victory in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association action in Kalamazoo, Mich.
The Thunder held the Hornets to single-digit point totals in each quarter and an 18.5 shooting percentage (10-of-54) for the game. Trine has now won eight straight games to begin the season and 19 of its last 20 games dating back to last year.
Trine (8-0, 2-0 MIAA) began the game with back-to-back layups by junior Cassidy Williams (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold) as the Thunder scored the first 11 points as part of a 15-2 overall scoring run. Trine led by as many as 16 points in the first quarter thanks to a layup by senior Jayde Abenth (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage) with just over a minute to go en route to a 20-6 advantage after the first 10 minutes.
Kalamazoo (2-4, 0-1 MIAA) began the scoring in the second quarter with a pair of free-throws to make it a 12-point game, 20-8. Trine senior Hayley Martin (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb) then scored consecutive baskets, followed by a free-throw by Williams, as part of a 5-0 mini run to extend the margin to 17 points, 25-8, with 6:43 left in the half. Trine later went on a 7-0 run that put the Thunder over the 20-point plateau for the first time in the game on a three-point play by Williams to make the score, 32-11, at the 4:01 mark. Trine went on to post a large lead of 31 points thanks to a triple by senior Ashley Elliott (Scottsburg, Ind./Scottsburg) that ended a 12-0 run with a minute to go. The final points were scored by the home team, but the Thunder still led by a commanding 44-15 score at halftime.
Trine continued its dominant play in the third quarter by outscoring Kalamazoo, 21-6, in the period. The Hornets scored the first points on a jumper, but would not score again until the 2:08 mark, allowing the Thunder to score 19 unanswered points to lead 63-17 after a pair of freebies by Elliott. The 46-point margin was the largest of the game for the Thunder up until that point and led, 65-21, heading into the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter saw Trine lead by as many as 57 points, 82-25, thanks to a three-pointer by senior Kayla Freeman (Battle Creek, Mich./Battle Creek Central) with 2:55 remaining. Freeman also scored the final points of the game on another triple with 45 seconds remaining as the Thunder cruised to the 85-29 final.
Leading Trine offensively was Freeman with a career and game-high 13 points on five-of-nine shooting (55.6 percent), including a perfect three-of-three from behind the arc. She also equaled her career-high in rebounds with a team-best seven boards. Joining Freeman in double figures in scoring were Williams and fellow junior Brandi Dawson (Garrett, Ind./Garrett) with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The Thunder will look to keep its momentum going when they host Calvin (Mich.) College on Saturday, Dec. 9 at Hershey Hall. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.