OLIVET, MICH. -- The Trine University women's basketball team posted a dominating victory against Olivet (Mich.) College that included holding the Comets to just 15 points in the first half on its way to an 82-42 win in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association game in Olivet, Mich.
Trine (12-2, 5-0 MIAA) held the home team to single-digit scoring in both the first and second quarters in the opening half, including outscoring the Comets, 23-9, in period number one. After a layup by freshman Tara Bieniewicz (Chesterfield, Mich./Dakota) to begin the scoring, Olivet (5-9, 1-5 MIAA) connected on a three-pointer to take an early one-point advantage, 3-2. On Trine's next possession, Bieniewicz scored a three-pointer of her own that started a string of six straight points for the visitors and gave the Thunder the lead. The two teams battled to a 9-9 tie with 3:37 to go in the first period when the Thunder scored 14 unanswered points that ended in a triple by freshman Kayla Wildman (Rockford, Mich./Rockford) and gave Trine a 23-9 lead after the first 10 minutes.
The scoring run continued for Trine in the second half as a triple by freshman Sophia Kreag (Westfield, Ind./Westfield) and a jumper by Wildman put the Thunder ahead by 19 points, 28-9, with just under eight-and-a-half minutes left before halftime. Trine recorded its first 20-point lead at the 7:01 mark following a layup by senior Brandi Dawson (Garrett, Ind./Garrett) that made the score, 31-11, as the Thunder held the Comets to just six points in the period. Trine ended the half with another sizeable run and scored the final 10 points of the half to lead, 46-15, at the intermission.
Trine continued to pull away in the third quarter and led by 39 points on two occasions that included a 60-21 margin at the 2:30 mark following a layup by freshman Kelsy Taylor (Louisville, Ky./New Albany). The lead was Trine's largest up until that point and went into the final period leading by 37 points, 62-25.
The fourh quarter saw the Trine lead reach 40 points for the first time in the game at the 6:03 mark after a layup by Kreag that put the Thunder ahead, 70-30. Late in the game, Trine matched its 40-point margin and recorded its largest advantage of the contest of 41 points with 26 seconds to go thanks to one-of-two free-throws by freshman Hannah Milligan (Clinton Twp., Mich./Lutheran North). Olivet tallied the final point on a free-throw, but Trine would claim the 82-42 win.
The Thunder had three players finish in double figures with the duo of Bieniwicz and senior Cassidy Williams (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold) both scoring a game-tying high 13 points. Kreag also scored in double digits with 12 points to round out the high scorers.
In addition, Trine out-rebounded Olivet, 55-32, with nine players recording four our more boards, led by junior Katy Steers (Portage, Ind./Portage) who had a game-high nine rebounds.
Trine will host Adrian (Mich.) College on Wednesday, Jan. 9 in a MIAA game at the MTI Center. Tip-off between the two teams is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.