NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Trine University women's basketball team defeated Penn State University-Behrend on Wednesday afternoon in the Basketball Destinations Post-Christmas Classic at Trevecca Nazarene University, 77-52.
Tara Bieniewicz [Chesterfield, Mich. / Dakota] was able to secure the Trine career three-point record with her second make from deep in the game at the 9:09 mark in the second quarter. She already held the record for most makes in the NCAA DIII era of Trine women's basketball, and now holds the all-time record for most career makes from deep.
"It's an honor to be recognized for this accomplishment and I couldn't have done it without my teammates both now and in the past," Bieniewicz mentioned post-game. "I've been blessed to play with such an amazing group of girls over the years and to have been apart of this outstanding basketball program. I also want to thank my coaches who believe in me and push me everyday."
The Thunder (10-2) led from opening tip-to-final buzzer and got up by as many as 34 in the fourth quarter to send the Lions (9-2) to their second loss in the 2021-22 season.
Trine went on an 8-0 run to start the game and held Behrend scoreless for almost four minutes out of the gates. Kelsy Taylor [Louisville, Ky. / New Albany] knocked down a pair of jumpers during the scoring spurt and Bieniewicz connected with her first three of the game at the 7:08 mark in the first.
Katie Sloneker [Monroe, Ohio / Monroe] and Sophie Sloneker [Monroe, Ohio / Monroe] combined for 10 straight in the midst of an 18-3 run. A 24-6 first quarter was capped with makes by Alyssa Argyle [Freeland, Mich. / Freeland] and Rachel Stewart [Pekin, Ind. / Eastern].
The record-breaking three-point field goal was the first Thunder score in the second quarter and began a streak of 14 straight points for the senior, including three more makes from beyond the arc spanning the first five minutes of the period.
The Lions were without a point over the final 5:13 in the second as Trine extended the lead to 50-19 at the half. Makayla Ardis [Lake City, Mich. / Lake City] and Sam Underhill [Grand Rapids, Mich. / Northview] entered the scoring column over the course of the 12-0 run.
The Thunder shot 56.7% (19-for-33) in the first while holding Behrend to just 17.1% (6-for-35) from the field. Five of six makes were from deep for the Lions.
A low-scoring third quarter was highlighted by an and-one from Bieniewicz and a pair of lay-ups from Stewart to go into the final 10 minutes with a 60-33 advantage.
Trine notched their largest lead of the game in the fourth quarter with a Stewart lay-up to give the Thunder a 34-point lead, 77-43. Behrend was able to end the contest by scoring nine in a row to get to the 77-52 final tally.
The Thunder outscored the Lions 34-14 in the paint and 35-4 off the bench. Bieniewicz (20 points) and Stewart (16 points) were double figure scorers for the Thunder, with Taylor and Sophie Sloneker each netting nine points, a season-high for Sloneker. Taylor and Stewart led Trine with seven rebounds each, both of them collecting three on the offensive end of the floor.
The Basketball Destinations Post-Christmas Classic continues tomorrow, December 30, when the Thunder take on Williams College at 2 pm (1 pm CST).