ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University women's basketball team held off a fourth quarter comeback inside the MTI Center on Wednesday evening 72-62 over Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) opponent, Alma College. The Scots (6-8, 2-3 MIAA) scored 30 points in the final period, but a 23-point lead by the Thunder (10-3, 4-0 MIAA) heading into the final ten minutes was too much to overcome.
Sidney Wagner recorded her third double-double in the last four games with 15 points and 10 rebounds and she added six assists. Erin Sherwood tied Wagner's mark with 15 points off the bench on 7-of-11 from the field. Jada Rhonehouse contributed with 12 points (career-high) as well as seven rebounds.
As a team, Trine was able to shoot 52.5% (32-for-61) from the field, but had to overcome 20 turnovers. The Thunder were tough to deal with in the paint and won that battle by a mark of 52-28. Trine outrebounded their opposition, 38-30.
A 22-11 first quarter in favor of the home squad put all the momentum in favor of the Thunder. Trine was 10-for-12 from the field with a three-point make by Sierra Hinds to start the game. The first 12 points belonged to the Thunder as Alma was held without a point until under five minutes to go in the quarter. The Scots were 0-for-4 with four turnovers to begin the game. Abby Sanner had a pair of makes in the final minute and Allie Walther concluded the first with a steal and layup.
The lead continued to build in the second quarter with Trine outscoring Alma 19-8 to take a 41-19 lead into halftime. Back-to-back three-point field goal makes by Allison Capouch and Sherwood in the closing seconds of the second gave the Thunder their largest lead of the first 20 minutes at 22. The Scots were contained to 33.3% (8-of-24) from the field in the half.
The lead ballooned to 28 at 49-21 with just under seven minutes to go in the third quarter thanks to a layup by Wagner. Alma would chip away at the deficit and just before the buzzer, they were able to convert a three-point attempt that shifted the momentum of the contest. Trine led 55-32 heading into the final quarter, but the Scots made consecutive shots from distance to force a timeout 22 seconds in.
The run would continue as Alma brought the score to 57-50 thanks to a flurry of Thunder turnovers. Capouch countered a three-point make with one of her own to stop the bleeding at 60-50. Wagner was the catalyst offensively and on the defensive glass late in the fourth, but with 1:39 to play, the Trine lead was once again eight at 67-59. Katie Tate would find Sherwood for a basket in transition as the Scots put full court pressure on and Rhonehouse buried a three to help put the game out of reach at 72-62.
In their next game, (RV) Trine hits the road at #9 Hope College on Saturday, January 6. Tip-off in Holland, Michigan is scheduled for 3 p.m.