ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University women's basketball team tipped off against Benedictine University on Tuesday evening to begin the 2022-23 season. The Thunder used a 22-4 first quarter to propel them to victory on their home floor by a score of 77-34.
"It was really great to see how active everyone was on the bench and how it carried people in the game," sophomore Sidney Wagner mentioned postgame. "The hustling and effort really stood out to me. All in all, we still have a lot to learn and get better at, but I know we can be great and tonight was just the beginning!"
43 of the team's 77 points came off the bench, including the leading scorer, sophomore Sierra Hinds. Hinds had a career-high 17 points, while her classmate Wagner had a solid all-around game with seven points, six assists and four rebounds overall as a non-starter. Freshman and back-up forward Abby Sanner tallied a team-high seven boards and was one basket away from double figures in her first collegiate action.
The first three possessions resulted in scores for Trine to go up 6-0. Senior Alyssa Argyle found classmate Sam Underhill for a made jump shot, while sophomore Katie Tate and senior Makayla Ardis had baskets to cap the run. Another score by Ardis forced Benedictine to call for time.
Coming out of the break, senior Katie Sloneker got in on the scoring as well as the team took a 12-0 advantage. Following their first score of the night, Hinds answered with a three-point field goal. Senior Sophie Sloneker buried a three as well just before the end of the first to go up 22-4.
An and-one from the freshman Sanner got the Thunder off on the right foot in the second quarter as Trine rattled off 12 in a row. It was not until 3:24 remaining in the second quarter for the Eagles to get back in the scoring column, but once again it would be a three-point play to answer, this time from Tate via an and-one.
The Thunder entered the half ahead 41-11 and held the opposition to 5-of-27 from the field (18.5%) with nine turnovers. The stellar defense would result in a steady flow of offense in the second half as well.
Hinds and Underhill were the heavy hitters in the third quarter, including a pair of three-point makes by Hinds for eight points and 3-for-3 from underneath. The duo was perfect from the field in the 23-12 quarter win to claim a 64-23 lead.
Sophomore Emma Hoover and freshmen Erin Sherwood and Jada Rhonehouse got in the scorebook late in the fourth quarter to cap off the 77-34 win. 11 different student-athletes recorded scores for the team.
Trine outrebounded Benedictine 44-32 in total, with 11 of those coming on the offensive end of the floor. The Eagles were held to just 20.0% from the field in 40 minutes of play. The 17-point night from Hinds led the team in scoring, with Underhill joining her in double digits at 10. Wagner was credited with six of the 14 Thunder assists.
The number eight ranked team in the nation will face their first road test of the season on Friday, November 11 at 6 p.m. when they go to #15 Baldwin Wallace University. It will be the first matchup between ranked teams this season.
