ALMA, Mich. – The Trine University women's basketball recorded their ninth consecutive victory on Saturday afternoon with an 83-56 triumph over Alma College in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play.
The Thunder (17-2, 10-1 MIAA) forced 22 Scot (11-9, 5-6 MIAA) miscues that led to a 27-4 points off of turnovers advantage in the win. Trine also dominated the painted area 50-18.
The Scots were able to score the first six points of the game and jumped out to a 10-2 edge nearly five minutes into the game. Sidney Wagner [Warsaw, Ind. / Tippecanoe Valley] had the first Thunder field goal, an and-one at the 5:35 mark. Trine scored the next 11 points with points by Sierra Hinds [Carmel, Ind. / University], Rachel Stewart [Pekin, Ind. / Eastern] and Sam Underhill [Grand Rapids, Mich. / Northview].
Upon taking their first lead of the contest, Kelsy Taylor [Louisville, Ky. / New Albany] and Makayla Ardis [Lake City, Mich. / Lake City] added their names to the box score to go up 17-12 after one quarter.
Kayla Wildman [Rockford, Mich. / Rockford] scored five quick ones, including a made three-point field goal to help Trine take a double-digit advantage 29-18 following a made lay-up by Underhill. In total for the second, the Thunder shot 57.1% (8-for-14) and had assists on six of the makes. Trine took an 18-point lead at half's end, 38-20.
Alma looked like they had steam to mount a comeback to begin the third and connected on a lay-up and made one from deep, but Trine countered with a make by Tara Bieniewicz [Chesterfield, Mich. / Dakota] and and-one by Taylor that jumpstarted a 10-0 run. The 10-point swing would be elevated by nine more in a row after a made Scot lay-up. Wagner put the team up 30 with back-to-back makes inside.
Brooke Brauher [Big Rapids, Mich. / Morley Stanwood] notched a pair of scores late in the third as Trine took a commanding 64-32 lead at the break. They bested their own second quarter by shooting 55.6% (10-of-18) from the field in the third.
A Taylor block and steal electrified the Thunder faithful that made the trip north to begin the fourth. Trine scored on their first three offensive possessions via an Ardis lay-up, Alyssa Argyle [Freeland, Mich. / Freeland] shot from close range and Bieniewicz freebies. Alma would outscore the MIAA's top team in the standings 24-19 in the final frame, but ultimately it was the Thunder coming out on top by a final score of 83-56.
Wagner and Underhill, both off the bench, were the leading scorers in the game, with Ardis and Taylor also reaching double digits with 10 apiece. Ardis would stuff the stat sheet with a team-high six rebounds and tied Wagner for the team-lead with four dimes.
Trine returns home on Monday, February 7 for a make-up game versus Albion College. Tip-off at MTI Center is scheduled for 7:30 pm.
