NE Indiana News

Trine Falls in MIAA Tournament Championship Game

The Trine University women's basketball team battled Hope College for the third time this season and this time for the highest stakes: a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Tournament Championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA DIII Women's Basketball Tournament. After 40 minutes of play, the Flying Dutch came away with a 76-65 win to clinch their fourth MIAA Tournament Championship in a row.

Hope will enter the NCAA Tournament with a 25-2 overall record while the Trine Thunder will hope their resume is strong enough to be considered for an at-large bid at 21-6.

It took nearly three minutes of game time for the Thunder to counter a made three by the Flying Dutch on the opening possession as Katie Tate drove to the basket for a layup. Five points from the MIAA MVP Sidney Wagner made it 8-7 Hope at the game's first pause for a media timeout.

Coming out of the break, Sophie Sloneker and Abby Sanner put themselves on the board and placed Trine in front 11-8. Nine of the final 12 points of the first quarter belonged to Hope, however. A Makayla Ardis three-point field goal kept it a one possession game at 17-14.

Katie Sloneker tied the game up on an and-one to begin the second period, but the Flying Dutch had an answer for every score throughout the first six minutes. A three-point make by Jada Rhonehouse sparked a mild 8-2 scoring run to put Trine back in front.

Wagner buried a three just before the end of the half to go up 34-31 as the teams entered their locker rooms. The sophomore netted nine of 20 points for the visitors in the second.

The third quarter would see the Thunder go cold from the field at 3-for-13 and 0-for-4 from downtown. Trine was outscored 27-11 in the frame, including a 14-1 run at the start of the second half. Back-to-back makes by Sanner cut the Flying Dutch lead down to 45-41, but three consecutive makes from deep helped balloon the lead to 58-45 at the third quarter buzzer.

Sierra Hinds displayed fight by knocking down a three and starting a 7-0 run for Trine. Ardis made a pair of free throws to cut the Flying Dutch lead down to six at 66-60 with 2:15 remaining in the game, but that would be as close as the Thunder got as Hope made 10-of-12 attempts at the free throw line to cap the 76-65 title game.

Trine forced 18 turnovers on the night and that led to 17 points on the offensive end of the floor, but a large free throw disparity did more than enough to give Hope the scoring advantage. The Flying Dutch were 25-of-32 from the charity stripe while the Thunder were 14-of-19. Wagner (22), Ardis (16) and Sanner (10) all scored double digits for the team and Wagner led the team with six rebounds and three assists as well.

The NCAA Division III Selection Show will decide the fate of the team as their aspirations of making the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons. It takes place on Monday, February 27 at 3 p.m. on www.NCAA.com.

Original source can be found here.