ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University women's basketball team came out on top on Saturday afternoon in a battle of NCAA DIII heavyweights as the #20 Thunder bested the #15 Calvin University Knights by a score of 60-45.

The Trine defense showed the visitors that they would be in for a long day early in the game with a stellar gameplan. Calvin was limited to just six points on 3-of-13 shooting (23.1%) in the first quarter as the Thunder took an early lead and would keep it wire-to-wire.

Sophomore Sidney Wagner scored 19 points and brought in seven rebounds, both career-highs. She provided the spark the team needed off the bench. "Every time I go out on the floor, I give it all I can," Wagner said postgame. "Everyone has a role on this team and that's why Trine is so good, everyone buys in to their role. We support each other and motivate one another."

The win pushes Trine's record to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play. The nationally-ranked Knights fall to 5-2 as well, but are 0-2 in league play following back-to-back losses.

The Thunder looked inside at Sam Underhill often in the first quarter and she finally got them in the scoring column after more than two minutes of scoreless action with a pair of free throws and a layup. Katie Tate added on with a score of her own to force Calvin into a quick timeout at 6:17.

After being held scoreless for the first 4:05 of the game, the Knights finally broke the scoring spell, but they were never able to tie or take the lead in the quarter. Wagner hit a pair of jumpers in transition and Sierra Hinds was true with a three-point field goal as Trine scored the final seven points in a 15-6 period.

Wagner started the second with another couple of makes from the field to complete the team's largest scoring run of the game at 11 in a row. A nine-point swing in favor of Calvin brought them to within one possession at 22-19 midway through the quarter, but three points by Wagner and another make from beyond the arc by Hinds extended the lead to 28-21 into the halftime break.

The Thunder caught a break coming out of the locker room as the star player for the Knights in Gabby Timmer picked up her third foul of the game on the first defensive possession. The potential advantage Calvin had inside was negated due to foul trouble and Trine took advantage inside and outside. A three by Alyssa Argyle made it 35-21 Thunder and the Knights had to call for time less than two minutes in to regroup.

Trine was able to play through some foul trouble of their own and maintain a double-digit advantage through three quarters at 44-31. The defense wore Calvin down to 2-of-10 shooting in the penultimate period of the game.

Wagner continued her hot shooting night with a few more baskets early in the fourth and Katie Sloneker added her name to the scorebook with a layup that gave Trine their largest lead of the afternoon at 50-33. The Knights would not go away without a fight, as eight straight points on three consecutive possessions made the Thunder dig in to finish the game.

A couple of dagger three-point makes by Argyle would do the trick at Trine pulled away to a 15-point victory at 60-45. Wagner (19 points) and Argyle (11 points) were double digit scorers for the Thunder and despite only one shot attempt, Sophie Sloneker had the team's highest +/- at +16. Underhill had nine points and a team-high eight rebounds (four offensive).

Trine remains at home on Saturday, December 10 when the Thunder host Olivet College as conference play carries on. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.