ANGOLA, IND. -- Four players scored in double figures, but it would not be enough as the Trine University women's basketball team suffered a close defeat against DePauw University, 68-66, in a non-conference game at the MTI Center in Angola, Ind.
Senior Brandi Dawson (Garrett, Ind./Garrett) led the Thunder scorers with 17 points on 66.7 percent shooting (six-of-nine) from the floor and also had a game-high four assists. Senior Montana Martin (Columbia City, Ind./Churubusco) was second in scoring with 14 points and senior Katy Steers (Portage, Ind./Portage) was third at 12 points. Senior Cassidy Williams (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold) chipped in with 10 points to round out the high scorers.
DePauw (3-0) won the rebounding battle for the game, 32-17, but it was Trine (2-1) who boasted an early lead with a 9-6 advantage after four minutes of play. The Tigers answered with a triple of their own a couple of possessions later, but the Thunder later equaled their three-point advantage multiple times including with just over a minute to go following a jumper by freshman Kayla Wildman (Rockford, Mich./Rockford) that made the score, 14-11. DePauw came back again to tie the game at 14-14, but a pair of free-throws by Trine's Kelsy Taylor (Louisville, Ky./New Albany) who was fouled as time expired in the quarter, capped the scoring and gave the Thunder a slight, 16-14, edge after the opening period.
The second quarter belonged to DePauw as the visitors outscored the home team, 20-14, and began the action with a with an 11-2 scoring run to go up by seven points, 25-18, at the 5:18 mark. This time, Trine rallied and made it a one-point game, 25-24, with six straight points that ended in a pair of free-throws by Williams with 2:53 to play in the half. Still trailing by a point, 31-30, with 28 seconds remaining, DePauw got a little breathing room with a three-pointer just before time expired that increased the margin to 34-30 at the intermission.
Momentum continued to swing back-and-forth between the two teams in the third quarter as Trine outscored DePauw, 23-15, for the period. The Thunder began the scoring with a layup by Steers, followed by a tre by Martin that gave Trine a 35-34 lead early on. The five points were part of a larger 10-2 run as the Thunder led by four points, 40-36, at the 6:31 mark. DePauw responded by outscoring Trine, 11-6, over the next 3:19 to regain the lead, 47-46, with a little over three minutes to go. Then back-to-back baskets by Dawson and a three-pointer by Williams, gave the lead back to the home squad by a margin of 53-47. The Tigers put the final points of the quarter on the board on a jumper to narrow the gap to 53-49 heading into the final frame.
Both teams were about even in shots taken and made baskets in the fourth quarter, but the difference came at the free-throw line as Depauw attempted 11 freebies and made eight attempts (72.7 percent) to one trip for Trine (two-of-two) which led to the Tigers posting 19 points to Trine's 13 points. Trine looked to pull away in the opening minutes and built a seven-point advantage, 62-55, with 6:30 to play on a layup by Williams. DePauw then rattled off eight straight points to regain the lead by a point, 63-62, with just over three-and-a-half minutes to go. A layup and two free-throws by Dawson put Trine back out ahead by a 66-63 margin, but then the Thunder offense went cold in the final 2:22 as the Tigers ended the game with a 5-0 mini run to take the 68-66 victory.
Trine will travel to Oberlin, Ohio on Tuesday, Nov. 20 for a non-conference game against Oberlin College. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.