ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University women's basketball team wrapped up action in the Cameron Hospital Classic on Sunday afternoon with an 88-42 win over Denison University.
The Thunder opened up their season with back-to-back victories against North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) teams and improved to 2-0 with an average margin of victory at 53. The loss drops Denison to 0-2.
For the second game in a row, the goal was not kind to the Thunder early on. Trine came up empty on their first six trips down the floor before Sam Underhill [Grand Rapids, Mich. / Northview] got on the board with a jump shot. From there, the Thunder got points on the next five possessions to go up 9-4.
The first quarter came to a close with Trine holding an 11-8 advantage. The slim margin would not last long however, as the number three-ranked team in the nation pulled away to a 33-22 lead at the half.
The Thunder cruised to a 30-9 edge in the third quarter to take a commanding 63-31 lead. Trine shot 11-of-16 (68.8%) from the floor in the period while holding the Big Red to 3-of-15 (20.0%) with six turnovers.
The fourth quarter was more of the same with the Thunder outscoring their opposition by 14 in the period on their way to the 88-42 victory.
It was a balanced scoring attack all night, with Underhill and Kelsy Taylor [Louisville, Ky. / New Albany] the only athletes in double figures. Underhill had 11 and Taylor scored 10 points while bringing down a team-high eight rebounds (five offensive).
"I'm proud of the girls for working hard this weekend," Taylor stated postgame. "When we play our game that we practice every day, we show why we're hard to beat. From the starters all the way down the bench, we all work together."
Along with them, Tara Bieniewicz [Chesterfield, Mich. / Dakota], Makayla Ardis [Lake City, Mich. / Lake City] and Rachel Stewart [Pekin, Ind. / Eastern] each chipped in with nine points. Stewart notched team-highs in assists (4) and steals (3) and brought in seven rebounds.
Trine hits the road for the next four games, with the next one on the schedule coming on Wednesday, November 17 at Benedictine (Ill.) University. Tip-off is slated for 6:30 pm.