HOLLAND, Mich. – The Trine University women's basketball team won the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Tournament Championship on Saturday night 63-59 over #9 Hope College (24-3). It is Trine's first MIAA Tournament title since 2019 and the Thunder (21-7) will be making their third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament by clinching the league's automatic berth.

The stats came out mostly even for both teams, but Trine shot slightly better at 48.9% (23-for-47). Hope was able to eek out a rebounding edge at 36-27, but even still the Thunder were able to make shots when it counted for the victory. Jada Rhonehouse led the team in scoring at 15 points and Sidney Wagner had 14, including her 1,000th career point. Wagner also led the team with seven rebounds.

The first quarter was the highest scoring of the day with 41 total points and a 21-20 Trine lead. Abby Sanner and Katie Tate were early shot makers for the team and Rhonehouse finished the quarter strong, including a three-point try as the buzzer sounded.

A strong start in the second put the Thunder up after Wagner was true from three. Hope would draw back to even at 29-29 with two minutes to go in the second quarter. Sanner made a basket in the closing seconds to once again give Trine momentum at the break, ahead 31-29.

Sierra Hinds knocked down a shot from long range at the start of the third but it was a back and forth affair. Erin Sherwood and Allison Capouch made their marks in the period with makes, including two three's by the freshman Capouch to keep the Thunder in front through three quarters, 48-46.

The team's leaders in scoring for the night stepped up early in the fourth and it was Capouch once again nailing a triple to go up 57-50 with 6:30 to go in the game. A make by Wagner made it 59-52 at the game's final media timeout. Missed free throws gave the home team life as the Flying Dutch cut the deficit to three at 62-59, but with only seven seconds left, Trine just needed one make at the charity stripe and got it from Wagner to claim the win at 63-59.

The NCAA Selection Show on Monday, February 26 at 2:30 p.m. will decide the location for the women's basketball team for their First and Second Round games.