HOLLAND, Mich. – In the battle for first place in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), The Trine University women's basketball team was defeated by Hope College, 75-74. The #9 Flying Dutch remain undefeated in league play at 5-0 and are 13-1 overall while the Thunder, who are receiving votes in the most recent D3hoops.com Top 25 poll, are 10-4 overall and 4-1 in conference action.
Trine was able to crash the glass effectively with a 36-28 advantage on rebounds with 12 on the offensive end of the floor but Hope outshot Trine 44.0% (22-of-50) to 38.6% (22-of-57) and attempted 10 more free throws. Sierra Hinds netted a career-high 21 points with five makes from deep. Sidney Wagner had 16 points, six rebounds and six assists, but fouled out late in the contest. Erin Sherwood tacked on 12 points.
The pace was fast and furious in the opening quarter as the Flying Dutch took a 28-20 lead. Abby Sanner scored the first basket of the game for the Thunder and opened the floodgates for seven consecutive makes. Capped off by an Addison Hutson layup, Trine led 18-12 before they missed their first field goal of the game over five minutes in. The final 3:46 for the Thunder would be empty as Hope went on an 11-0 run to conclude the first.
The Flying Dutch extended their lead to double figures early in the second period before Wagner buried a three-point try. Points would be hard to come by for both teams as it was four minutes of scoreless basketball from both sides from seven minutes left in the second until three minutes remaining. Sydney Horton knocked down a shot from long range, but at halftime, Hope held a 41-30 edge.
The comeback attempt began in the third quarter after five straight points, highlighted by a three-point make by Jada Rhonehouse. The Flying Dutch lead grew back up to 12 at the halfway point in the quarter, but a pair of free throws by Sherwood sparked a 10-2 scoring run with a three-point field goal by Allison Capouch. Sherwood connected from distance as well to get to the end of the third trailing 58-54.
Trine reclaimed the lead after Hinds buried a shot from long range with 8:59 to play, but Hope countered with one on the other end of the floor. Capouch buried two more attempts from three to bring the Thunder to within two at 69-67 with three minutes left to play. Head Coach Andy Rang used a timeout with the deficit the same at 1:23 to go as a key stop gave Trine the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead.
A miss on a try to take the lead forced the Thunder to foul to stay alive. The Flying Dutch made both at the charity stripe to make it a two-possession game and a foul by Hope put Hinds at the line for two with three seconds on the clock. Hinds would make two at the free throw line, putting the pressure on the Flying Dutch on the inbounds play. After getting the ball in and being fouled, the home squad would make both at the line. Hinds made a successful three as the buzzer sounded, but Hope hung on for the 75-74 victory.
Trine looks to rebound at home versus the Adrian College Bulldogs on Wednesday, January 10 beginning at 7 p.m.