ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University women's basketball team was defeated by Hope College in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Championship game on Saturday night by a score of 54-50.
By way of the victory, the Flying Dutch (26-1) take two-out-of-three from the Thunder (24-3) and secure the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. Trine is still in good shape, however for an at-large bid. They will find out on Monday afternoon during the NCAA Selection Show at 2:30 pm where they are in the bracket.
"We were right in the ballgame," head coach Andy Rang stated. "I'm really proud of the girls. They played really hard and as tough as they could. We let them stand at the foul line to much, but overall it was a great performance. The result doesn't define this team and who this team is. Thank you to everyone who came out, not just tonight, but all year long. You've created a great environment for a basketball game."
The Thunder fell behind 6-0 before Katie Sloneker [Monroe, Ohio / Monroe] knocked down a jump shot for the team's first points. Tara Bieniewicz [Chesterfield, Mich. / Dakota] cashed in on back-to-back three's and Kelsy Taylor [Louisville, Ky. / New Albany] made a lay-up to complete a 10-0 run in just over two minutes.
A Sophie Sloneker [Monroe, Ohio / Monroe] lay-up was the only score in a 9-2 run for Hope to claim an 18-12 lead at the quarter break.
Just as quickly as Trine went down, in three consecutive possessions, the Thunder retook the lead. Taylor hit consecutive lay-ups and Kayla Wildman [Rockford, Mich. / Rockford] knocked down a three to go up 19-18 at the eight-minute mark in the second.
Alyssa Argyle [Freeland, Mich. / Freeland], Makayla Ardis [Lake City, Mich. / Lake City] and Sidney Wagner [Warsaw, Ind. / Tippecanoe Valley] each scored points in the second to remain within one score, but Trine was never able to get the advantage back in the period. The Flying Dutch remained on top 31-25 at the break.
Hope shot 48.0% (12-for-25) in the first half to take a slight lead into recess. In the third, the Hope lead ballooned to seven at the halfway point 35-28, the largest lead either team would garner over the course of the night.
Bieniewicz once again was the catalyst of the Thunder offense with two makes from way downtown to cap an 8-0 run and take a 36-35 lead. The Flying Dutch had a late score to remain in front after three, 37-36, but Hope was held to just six points in the third.
It was a battle of wills down the stretch as Wildman and Rachel Stewart [Pekin, Ind. / Eastern] went to the line and knocked down a free throw as well as a jump shot. Bieniewicz nailed a jumper inside the arc as well to go up 43-38.
The Flying Dutch split free throws on four different occasions to bring the game within one, and a lay-up with 3:41 to go gave Hope the lead once again. At the three-minute mark, the 10th and final lead change of the night occurred on a Hope three-point field goal to make it 47-45.
Another three by the Flying Dutch with under two to play extended the lead to six, but Stewart a Stewart lay-up and free throws by Wildman brought it down to one possession with less than one-minute remaining. A foul sent Hope to the line and this time, they would convert on both to make it a 54-50 ballgame. A key block on a three-point attempt to close within one was blocked as the Flying Dutch would seal the victory.
Bieniewicz led the team in scoring for the second consecutive night with 17 points. Taylor and Sam Underhill [Grand Rapids, Mich. / Northview] had five boards apiece. Katie Sloneker had a team-high four assists. Stewart was credited with four steals.