ANGOLA, IND.-- Olivet's inside muscle and a big second half run proved too much for Trine's women's basketball team to overcome, as the Thunder fell to Olivet 66-57 in MIAA action Saturday afternoon in Hershey Hall.
The Comets held a 48-25 rebounding advantage, which helped produce a 15-2 edge in second-chance points. A 16-4 second half run stretched the Olivet lead to 15, which proved too much for Trine to overcome. Kelsey Campbell led the Comets, filling the stat sheet with 14 points, five rebounds and six assists. Kelsey Henselmeier (Martinsville, Ind./Martinsville) tied a career-high with 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting for the Thunder. Trine held MIAA-leading scorer Stefanie Lang to eight points, 14 below her season average. Trhe Thunder fall to 4-12 overall and 1-6 in MIAA play. Olivet is 14-2, with a 7-1 mark in conference play.
Kayla Dunn (Columbia City, Ind./Columbia City) scored in double-figures for the second time in the last three games for Trine, notching 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting. Amy Newell (Three Rivers, Mich./Three Rivers) added 11 points and five rebounds. Trine shot 46 percent from the field (22-of-48).
Carli Reid scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds for the Comets. Heather Lauwers narrowly missed a double-double with 11 points and nine boards. Chelsea Ciba dished out eight assists to go along with seven points. The Comets shot 41 percent overall (24-of-58) and held a 38-28 advantage in the paint.
Trine led by as much as six in the first half after a strong start. Henselmeier and Newell combined for 15 of the Thunder's first 20 points as Trine took a 20-14 lead with 9:07 to play in the first half. Each player was aggressive driving to the basket, while Newell also knocked down a three.
A quick 10-point run by the Comets helped pace a 22-9 close to the first half. Campbell knocked down a pair of treys, while Lauwers added four points in the 10-point spurt. The Comets took a 36-29 lead into the half.
Trine was able to close the deficit to three early in the second half. Dunn scored four points, while Henselmeier added a bucket before a Newell jumper cut the score to 40-37 with 16:34 to play.
Olivet hit right back with the deciding 16-4 run to open up a 56-41 lead. Reid and Ciba each came up with six points during that stretch for the Comets. Trine closed the Comet lead to seven on several occasions in the closing minutes, but was unable to get any closer as Olivet closed out the 66-57 victory.
Trine returns to action Wednesday, Jan. 22 when they travel to Kalamazoo. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.