ADA, Ohio – The Trine University women's basketball team won a matchup between nationally-ranked teams on Saturday afternoon when they traveled to Ohio Northern University. The 17th-ranked Thunder defeated the 10th-ranked Polar Bears by a score of 64-56.

Trine had lost their most recent game, but are back in the win column at 3-1 this season. Ohio Northern falls to 1-3.

The Polar Bears started the game strong with the first five points and led 13-2 at the halfway point in the first quarter. The Thunder would turn it on offensively late in the quarter and cut the gap down to 19-16 at the end of 10 minutes. Abby Sanner and Katie Tate started the scoring with back-to-back baskets and that led to six straight possessions with a score for Trine. Sidney Wagner, Tiana Maat and Sierra Hinds were also involved.

Hinds and Erin Sherwood would give Trine their first lead of the game with scores on the opening two possessions of the second quarter at 20-19. Both teams would go scoreless over the next three minutes before the two teams began trading points throughout the quarter.

The Thunder found themselves down five with 2:17 to go before the break and that's where Trine unloaded for eight in a row to seize momentum. Wagner converted a layup followed by a free throw by Jada Rhonehouse, a layup by Sanner off the feed by Chelsi Giesige, then a three-point field goal by Addison Hutson to make the score 31-28 at halftime.  

Ohio Northern would return the favor by scoring the first 11 points in the second half, making the score 39-31 less than four minutes into the third period. Hinds finally broke up the scoring run by the home team with an and-one, then Wagner added on with a make from beyond the arc. The Polar Bears would remain in front until less than one minute to play in the quarter when Sherwood converted an offensive rebound into two points to make it 45-44 Thunder.

Persistence on the offensive glass resulted in the first points scored in the fourth quarter by Wagner on a jump shot. She would extend the lead herself with a layup and Hinds would connect as well to make it 51-47 and force Ohio Northern into a timeout at 6:09 to play.

The Polar Bears got back to even with less than five minutes to go before Allie Walther knocked down a three to get Trine back in front. Down the stretch, Rhonehouse made a layup and was fouled to put the Thunder up 59-52 with less than two minutes remaining. After trading free throws, Ohio Northern connected on a jump shot coming out of a timeout, which resulted in head coach Andy Rang using a timeout as well with 38 seconds left.

Wagner knocked down three-of-four opportunities at the free throw line to seal the deal and take home the road victory 64-56. She would lead the team in both points (18) and rebounds (7). Both teams struggled to shoot from long range as the Thunder were 5-for-20 (25.0%) and Polar Bears 5-for-24 (20.8%) along with that slight edge, Trine also beat Ohio Northern in total shooting percentage, 49.0% (24-of-49) to 31.7% (19-of-60).

The Thunder begin conference play in their next game, a road matchup with Calvin University on Wednesday, November 29 at 7:30 p.m.