ANGOLA, IND.-- Trine's women's basketball team pulled away late to earn a 67-58 victory over Kalamazoo Wednesday night in Hershey Hall.
The Thunder broke open a 41-all tie with a 9-0 run to open up a lead that proved too much for the Hornets to overcome. Trine went on to lead by as much as 13. Kelsey Henselmeier (Martinsville, Ind./Martinsville) tied her career-high with 22 points to go along with eight rebounds and three assists to lead the Thunder. Kayla Dunn (Columbia City, Ind./Columbia City) notched her first-career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. It was Trine's first double-double since Dec. 29, 2012. Emily Lindsay paced the Hornets with 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Trine improves to 6-18 overall and 3-12 in the MIAA. Kalamazoo falls to 12-11 overall, with an 8-7 mark in league play.
Dunn's 16 points and 10 rebounds were each new career-highs. Alivia Recker (Arlington, Ohio/Arlington) added 12 points and seven boards. Lauren Tait (Syracuse, Ind./Wawasee) notched eight points and eight rebounds in the final home game of her Trine career. The Thunder shot 37 percent overall (23-of-63).
Grace Smith came off the bench to score nine points and grab nine rebounds for Kalamazoo. Nicole Antoine added eight points and 10 rebounds, while Perri Nicholson grabbed a game-high 13 boards. The Hornets shot 29 percent from the field (18-of-63).
Neither team led by more than six points before the deciding Trine run in the second half. Recker broke open the 41-all tie by draining a three from the right wing. Dunn banked in a tough transition runner, and Henselmeier found Tait for a transition layup to give Trine their largest lead at that point at seven points. A driving layup by Dunn closed out the run and made it 50-41 with 6:59 to play.
The Thunder would go on to lead by as much as 13 after a pair of Henselmeier free throws made the score 58-45 with 4:03 to play. The Hornets pulled back within six, but Tait sank a pair of free throws to restore the lead to eight and Kalamazoo would get no closer the rest of the way.
Tait, Megan Engle (Parker City, Ind./Monroe Central) and Liz Hartley (Muncie, Ind./Cowan) were sent out winners in the final home game of their Trine careers.
The Thunder close out the season this Saturday, Feb. 22 when they head to Olivet. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.