ANGOLA, IND.—Trine's women's basketball team got a solid, balanced effort as the Thunder defeated Alma 79-57 to earn their first MIAA win of the season Wednesday evening in Hershey Hall.
Eleven Thunder scored in the victory, with nine players scoring five or more points. Trine shot a season-best 50 percent from the floor (31-of-62) in producing their highest scoring output of the season. Laura Rosekrans (Williamston, Mich./ Williamston) scored a career-high 12 points off the bench on 4-of-9 shooting for the Thunder. Alivia Recker (Arlington, Ohio/ Arlington) added 12 points and also filled the stat sheet with five rebounds, five assists and four steals. Mallory Pruett led Alma with 13 points on 3-of-13 shooting. Trine improves to 4-11 overall and 1-5 in MIAA play. The Scots fall to 0-16 overall and 0-7 in conference play.
Megan Engle (Parker City, Ind./Monroe Central) came off the bench to score nine points for the Thunder , connecting on all four of her field goal attempts. Trine's bench outscored their Alma counterparts by a 41-17 margin. Kayla Dunn (Columbia City, Ind./Columbia City) and Amy Newell (Three Rivers, Mich./Three Rivers) each added eight points. Brittany Herr (Metamora, Ohio/Evergreen) connected on a pair of treys and Kelsey Henselmeier (Martinsville, Ind./Martinsville) notched six points apiece.
Kaitlyn Kendall came off the bench to score nine points for Alma. Erica Hansen and Nicole Green each added eight points. The Scots shot 32 percent (17-of-53) on the evening.
After a jumper by Faith Weier cut an early Trine lead to 17-14 with 12:32 to play in the first half, the Thunder responded in a big way by scoring the next 13 points. Recker, Henselmeier and Dunn started the run, connecting on three straight jump shots. After a Dunn free throw, another jumper by Recker and a pair of buckets by Engle pushed the Thunder lead to 30-14 with 6:55 remaining in the half.
Alma wasn't able to pull much closer the rest of the half, as Trine went to the break with a 42-29 advantage. Recker scored 10 of her points in the first half to lead the way, while Newell added seven.
A 7-2 stretch to start the second half pulled the Scots back within striking distance. A three and a pair of free throws by Kassidi Adams cut the score to 44-36 with 16:33 to play, but that was as close as the Scots would get in the second half. An 8-0 response by Trine consisting of an old-fashioned three by Dunn, a pair of free throws by Taylor Cole (Shepherd, Mich./Shepherd), a bucket by Recker and a free throw by Newell restored the lead to double-digits. Alma would not threaten again the rest of the night.
Trine continues MIAA play this Saturday, Jan. 18 when they host Olivet at 1:00 p.m. in Hershey Hall.
