ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University women's basketball team struggled to score in Saturday's 53-50 loss to Ohio Northern University. The Thunder shot 32.7% (16-of-49) from the field and 31.3% (10-of-32) from distance while turning the ball over 17 times.
It was a breakout game for freshman guard Addison Hutson, who had a team-high 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting and five made three-point field goals. It was the first points of her career after going scoreless in her combined 11 minutes on the floor in three of the first four games.
The Polar Bears of Ohio Northern go to 4-1 on the season, while the Thunder fall to 3-2 overall.
Both teams could not figure out how to take the lid off the rim in the opening minutes, and stiff defense on both sides forced four turnovers in the first 120 seconds of game time. Ohio Northern recorded the game's first field goal at the 6:28 mark in the first quarter and the road team carried a 13-2 advantage into the closing seconds of the first.
Hutson converted a jump shot off of an offensive rebound and Sidney Wagner picked the pocket of an opposing guard for a layup to make it 13-6 as the clock struck triple zeros.
The long-range jumpers finally started to fall in period number two when Katie Sloneker and Alyssa Argyle each were true from deep. An Abby Sanner layup from Sierra Hinds in transition got Trine to within one possession, but the Polar Bears were able to withstand the attack put on by the Thunder. A pair of free throws by Sam Underhill with one second remaining made it 25-20 ONU at the break.
The third quarter was by far the best of the afternoon for Trine as they took their first lead of the game and ultimately won the 10-minute stretch by a score of 17-9. Katie Tate scored the first field goal of the second half on the team's first possession and Argyle got the Thunder to within one with a make from three-point-land.
Wagner added her name to the three-point parade with a make at 3:22 remaining to give Trine a 32-30 lead and force the Polar Bears into a timeout. A 10-2 run down the stretch put the Thunder ahead 37-32 before a layup by Ohio Northern in the final seconds.
Three-point field goals were converted by Hutson and Makayla Ardis in the fourth quarter to keep the Polar Bears at arm's length, but answers on the other end of the floor allowed them to remain within striking distance. With just over three minutes to play, Ohio Northern would tie the game up at the free throw line and at 1:29, took the lead at the charity stripe as well at 49-47.
Coming out of a timeout, the freshman Hutson would hit the biggest shot of her young career with a three-point field goal at the 31-second mark to reclaim the lead at 50-49. On the other end of the floor, a contested jump shot in the paint would fall for the Polar Bears to go back up one.
Trine had an opportunity to take the lead, but couldn't convert their opportunity before fouling and sending the opponents to the free throw line for two shots. Ohio Northern hit both, and the Thunder had a long opportunity as time expired, but the three-point field goal missed, sending Trine to their second loss of the 2022-23 campaign.
Hutson's 17 points made her the only Thunder scorer in double figures. Underhill had nine points and was the team's leading rebounder by collecting eight missed shots. Katie Sloneker dished out three assists.
Conference play is next on the docket for Trine women's basketball when they travel to Adrian College on Wednesday, November 30. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.