ANGOLA, Ind. -- The Trine women's basketball team will be seeking an automatic-qualifying bid to the NCAA Tournament when the Thunder host the MIAA Women's Basketball Tournament this weekend in Hershey Hall.
The Thunder won the MIAA championship for the first time in program history, defeating then-No. 8 Hope on its home floor 70-53 to clinch the title in the final game of the regular season. Trine is ranked No. 18 in the nation and holds an overall record of 22-2 entering this weekend's action. The Thunder face No. 4 seed Albion in the semifinals Friday night at 7:30 p.m. The Britons finished the regular season 18-7 overall and had an 11-5 record in conference play. The winner of the game advances to face No. 2 seed Hope or No. 3 seed Calvin in the championship game Saturday night.
Trine swept the season series between the two teams with a pair of victories by double digits. The Britons made things tough into the fourth quarter at Albion, but Trine pulled away with a 22-12 advantage in the final 10 minutes to earn a 62-49 victory in the first meeting. Defense was the story for the Thunder in the second game as Trine held the Britons to just 24 points over the first three quarters in a 69-45 victory in Hershey Hall.
Efficient scoring and a stingy defense have been the recipes for success this year for the Thunder. Trine shoots 46.9 percent from the field, the second-best mark in NCAA Division III. The team ranks eighth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 48.4 points per game. That combination has led the Thunder to an average margin of victory of 24.6 points, the third-best mark in the nation. The team carries an eight-game winning streak into the MIAA Tournament.
Albion's biggest strength has been its passing success relative to turnovers. The Britons lead the MIAA and rank sixth in the nation with a 1.30 assist-to-turnover ratio. Albion commits 14 turnovers per game, the second-lowest mark in the MIAA. The Britons lead the conference with a plus-6.75 turnover margin and rank second in the league in scoring at 76.2 points per game. Albion has one victory over a ranked opponent this season, an 83-77 overtime defeat of Hope.
Brandi Dawson (Garrett, Ind. / Garrett) leads Trine in scoring at 15.9 points per game, which ranks fourth in the MIAA. Dawson's 55.9 field goal percentage ranks 24th nationally. Hayley Martin (Auburn, Ind. / DeKalb) adds an even 15 points per game on 51.1 percent shooting, which ranks 57th in the nation. Martin set a school record with 58 blocked shots this season.
Dawson and Martin were each at their best in the final week of the season. Dawson was named the MIAA Women's Basketball Player of the Week after averaging 18.5 points per game on 62.5 percent field goal shooting. Martin was recognized on the D3hoops.com Team of the Week after stuffing the stat sheet with 20.5 points, seven rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game.
Trine features a strong supporting cast, with eight other players who have scored in double-figures in a game this season. Nine players in the Thunder playing rotation shoot better than 40 percent from the field.
Albion is led by Oreyana Curry, who finished second in the MIAA in scoring at 16 points per game. Curry led the MIAA in free throw attempts and free throws made. Emily Bernas adds 11.2 points on 45.9 percent field goal shooting. Curry and Olivia Savage each rank among the top five in the MIAA in assist-to-turnover ratio, with Savage dishing out a team-high 3.2 assists per game. Emily Zgoda ranks third in the MIAA in three-point field goals made.
Trine is seeking its first MIAA Tournament championship. The Thunder advanced to the championship game for the first time in program history last season. Trine split its season series with Hope and swept Calvin.
Saturday night's championship game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
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