Trine Improves to 9-0 in MIAA With Win Against Alma

Trine Improves to 9-0 in MIAA With Win Against Alma

ANGOLA, IND.  --  The Trine University women's basketball team stayed undefeated in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play and improved its current winning streak to six games with a 77-41 win against Alma (Mich.) College at the MTI Center.

Trine scored 22 points off of 20 Alma turnovers and out-rebounded the Scots, 39-29.  The Thunder shot 48.3 percent (28-of-58) and held their opponents to 31.3 percent (15-of-48) from the floor, including just 20.0 percent (two-of-10) from three-point range.

Individually, Trine was led in scoring by senior Brandi Dawson (Garrett, Ind./Garrett) with 13 points and shot 36.4 percent (four-of-11) to go along with a game-high five assists.  Senior Cassidy Williams (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold) was second with 12 points and freshman Tara Bieniewicz (Chesterfield, Mich./Dakota) rounded out the high scorers with 10 points.

Senior Montana Martin (Columbia City, Ind./Churubusco) tied Dawson in assists with five to help lead all players.

Alma (8-10, 3-6 MIAA) took the first lead of the game with a three-pointer to begin play, but Trine (16-2, 9-0 MIAA) then went on a 6-0 run to take the lead and never trailed in the game again.  The Thunder quickly began to pull away and went on to lead by as many as nine points on two occasions, including a 23-14 margin after the first 10 minutes.

In the second quarter, Trine outscored Alma, 17-9, and started the period with a Williams triple that gave the Thunder their first double-digit lead of the contest, 26-14.  Leading by 10 points with 6:41 to go in the half, Martin hit a jumper that sparked an 8-0 scoring run that led to Trine's largest lead of the game so far of 18 points, 38-20, at the 2:38 mark.  After three free-throws by the Scots, Trine's Bieniewicz tallied the final points of the half on a layup and made the score 40-23 at the break.

Alma cut into the deficit to get to within 13 points, 42-29, with 6:28 to go in the third quarter, but the Thunder responded with a 15-3 run to take control of the game with a 25-point advantage, 57-32, and included one-of-two free-throws to end the scoring.  The Scots connected on a three-pointer just before the end of the period, but Trine still led by 22 points, 57-35, heading into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter saw Trine put an exclamation point on the victory as the Thunder defense held Alma to just six points in the period.  Trine quickly added to its lead with a 16-2 run right out of the gate to record its largest lead of the game of 36 points for the first time with 5:32 left in the contest thanks to a layup by Dawson.  Trine matched its large lead two more times for the clock expired, including a final score of 77-41.

Trine will host Calvin (Mich.) College on Wednesday, Jan. 23 in a MIAA game at the MTI Center.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.