ALMA, MICH.-- A big first half paced Trine's women's basketball team to a 79-70 victory over MIAA-foe Alma Thursday night at Art Smith Arena.
The Thunder scored a season-best 49 points in the first half to open up an 18-point halftime advantage and never looked back. Kelsey Henselmeier (Martinsville, Ind./Martinsville) paced four Thunder in double-figures with 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Kayla Dunn (Columbia City, Ind./Columbia City) added 14 points. Kaitlyn Kendall came off the bench to score 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting to lead Alma. Trine improves to 5-15 overall and 2-9 in the MIAA. Alma falls to 0-21 overall, 0-12 in conference play.
Megan Engle (Parker City, Ind./Monroe Central) notched a career-high 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting for Trine. Taylor Cole (Shepherd, Mich./Shepherd) joined Engle with a career-best effort, scoring 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting. Lauren Tait (Syracuse, Ind./Wawasee) added eight points and nine rebounds. Trine shot 44 percent from the field (28-of-64).
Erica Hansen also came off the bench to provide a spark for Alma, scoring 18 points and grabbine nine rebounds. The Scots bench outscored their Thunder counterparts 54-36. Alma shot 36 percent overall (29-of-80).
Trine maintained a double-digit lead throughout most of the second half. The Scots did not pull within single-digits until 13 seconds remained. Engle (seven points) and Cole (six points) provided the offensive spark for the Thunder in the second half.
Trine returns home Saturday, Feb. 8 when they host Albion at 1:00 p.m. in Hershey Hall. The Britons took home a 56-50 in the first meeting between the two teams this season.