ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University women's basketball team got back in the win column on Saturday afternoon with a 73-51 home win against Alma College. The victory puts the Thunder at 16-5 overall this season and 10-2 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) action. The Scots of Alma fall to 7-15 and 5-8 in the league.
Trine used a rebounding advantage of 30-22 in the game and got 11 second chance opportunities that led to 12 points. The Thunder also netted 27 points off of 21 Alma turnovers while the Scots scored just five points on 10 Trine miscues.
The defense was locked in early for the Thunder. Alma was without a point for over five minutes to start the game while Trine got ahead 9-0. Makayla Ardis had a pair of layups while Abby Sanner was pure on two free throw attempts and Katie Tate nailed a three-point field goal. The teams had matching scoring runs, as the Scots scratched their way back into the game and then the Thunder extended the lead once more. Sidney Wagner found Alyssa Argyle for three just before the end of the half to make it 19-8 after one quarter.
Argyle was true once again from downtown on the team's opening possession of the second, but an and-one on the other end seized momentum. Trine scored six of the next seven points over the course of the next four minutes to go up 28-12. The end of the second was filled with scoring as both teams combined for five makes from beyond the arc down the stretch. A Wagner three with one minute and change remaining made it 41-22 at the break.
Katie Sloneker had the first basket of the second half to continue the offensive attack for the home squad. Wagner was able to bully her way inside for a pair of makes that wore down the opposing defense. An Ardis three-point make made it 52-33 with three minutes to play in the third quarter and a timeout by head coach Andy Rang. The lead would balloon all the way to 24 at 57-34 thanks to an and-one by Sanner off the offensive glass.
Alma remained at arm's length, but kept things interesting after winning the fourth quarter 18-16. Trine's lead was cut down to as little as 16 at 61-45, but consistent scoring from the Thunder allowed them to stay ahead. Erin Sherwood and Alexis Snodgrass were able to make shots in the closing minutes of a 73-51 winner.
Wagner led all scorers with 20 points on the day, as well as a team-high four assists. Ardis and Sanner had 14 and 11 points, and tied for the team lead with five rebounds apiece. Tate was the remaining double-digit scorer with 11 points as well.
The homestand continues for the Trine women when Kalamazoo College comes to Angola on Wednesday, February 8. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.