St. Petersburg, Fla. – The Trine University women's basketball team rattled off their fifth consecutive victory on Monday evening in their opening game of the 2022 Basketball Destinations Classic. The Thunder topped North Park University by a mark of 65-51.
Trine used a massive second quarter to record a come-from-behind win. The Thunder outscored the Vikings 24-5 in the period and hit nine of their 14 attempts from the field.
Sidney Wagner had the first seven points of the game for Trine and Katie Sloneker buried a three that gave the team their first lead of the day at 10-9 with just over five minutes remaining in the first quarter. Unfortunately from there, it would be all North Park. The Thunder failed to score on the final nine possessions of the quarter and turned the ball over six times.
The team woke up in the second with five straight points to start the period, highlighted by an and-one from Katie Sloneker. The lead would be reclaimed a few minutes later via a Sierra Hinds three-point make. The final seven points belonged to Trine as well, five by the sophomore Hinds. She led the way with eight points in the second and Sam Underhill had seven points and four rebounds in the frame.
The Thunder took a 34-22 lead into the third quarter, but North Park inched closer. Makayla Ardis knocked down a pair of attempts from long range to pace the offense, but the Vikings got to within seven with under two minutes to go in the quarter. A made layup by Alyssa Argyle just before the final period made it 46-37 Thunder.
North Park continued to chip away and with 5:54 to go, got the game down to one possession at 51-48. Wagner and Underhill countered with makes on the next two times down the floor to give themselves some breathing room. Over the final five minutes, the Vikings were held to just three points and free throws by Wagner, Underhill and Ardis sealed the game at 65-51.
Trine beat North Park at all three levels of shooting: 44.7% to 34.5% from the field, 37.5% to 25.0% from three and 89.5% to 43.8% from the free throw line. The Thunder won the rebounding battle 37-30. Underhill notched her fourth double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds, both team-highs. Three other student-athletes joined her in double-digit scoring in Wagner (11), Ardis (10) and Hinds (10).
Day two of the 2022 Basketball Destinations Classic involves Trine matching up with Wartburg College. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m.