ANGOLA, IND. -- The Trine University women's basketball team fell to Ohio Wesleyan University, 67-60, in a non-conference game at the MTI Center in Angola, Ind.
Trine shot 36.0 percent (18-of-50) for the game, but could not withstand a 50.0 percent (24-of-48) shooting effort by Ohio Wesleyan that also included a 14-of-15 performance (93.3 percent) at the free-throw line for the Battling Bishops.
The Thunder had a pair of players score in double figures and were led by sophomore Tara Bieniewicz (Chesterfield, Mich./Dakota) who matched her career-high with 18 points on five-of-12 shooting (41.7 percent). Fellow sophomore Kayla Wildman (Rockford, Mich./Rockford) was the other Trine player in double-digit scoring with a career-best 11 points.
Junior Shay Herbert (Pinckney, Mich./Pinckney) led the team in rebounding with eight boards and senior Katy Steers (Portage, Ind./Portage) was second with seven rebounds in addition to a game-high five assists.
Bieniewicz began the scoring in the first quarter with a three pointer, but Ohio Wesleyan (1-2) connected on consecutive jumpers to take a one-point edge, 4-3, at the 6:53 mark. The Bishops later extended their advantage to three points before Trine (1-1) scored four straight points thanks to a pair of free-throws by both Bieniewicz and sophomore Rachel Stewart (Pekin, Ind./Eastern) to lead 11-10 just before the end of the first period. The quarter would end, however, with OWU connecting on a three-pointer to regain the lead and take a 13-11 margin into the second frame.
OWU maintained a lead for the majority of the second quarter despite being outscored, 12-7, in the period. The Bishops had a three-point advantage, 20-17, with just over two minutes to go before the intermission when Trine ended the half by outscoring OWU, 6-0, thanks to a layup by freshman Sam Underhill (Grand Rapids, Mich./Northview) and free-throws by Stewart and sophomore Kaylee Argyle (Freeland, Mich./Freeland) that resulted in a three-point lead for the home squad, 23-20, at halftime.
The second half began with OWU erasing the Trine lead early in the third quarter with four quick points to take a 24-23 lead. The game then turned into a back-and-forth pace as the two teams battled to five ties and seven lead changes on the scoreboard. Neither team led by more than three points in the quarter which ended with a successful jumper by the Bishops for a slim 39-38 margin heading into the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter saw OWU score 28 points, but would trail early by as many as five points on two occasions that included a 49-44 score with 6:16 remaining following a layup by Trine's Kelsy Taylor (Louisville, Ky./New Albany). The Bishops then outscored the Thunder, 15-6, over the next 6:28 to take the lead for good and lead, 61-55, with 48 seconds left. Trine got to within four points before time expired, but four free-throws and a jumper secured the victory for the visitors who went on to post the 67-60 victory.
Trine will host Oberlin (Ohio) College on Wednesday, Nov. 20 in a matchup at the MTI Center. Tip-off between the two teams is slated for 7:30 p.m.