ADA, Ohio –
Olivia Marks beat the second half buzzer to complete the #16 Trine University women's basketball team's comeback win over Ohio Northern this afternoon at the ONU Sports Center. Marks scored with five seconds left to give Trine (4-1) the 50-49 win over the Polar Bears (0-6).
Erin Sherwood assisted the game winner and led the team with 17 points.
Marks scored five and added three assists,
Callie Nichols and
Hailey Cole each had eight points for Trine. Cole added four steals and six boards.
Ohio Northern controlled the first half and the early portion of the third quarter, leading 33-22 at halftime and led 42-27 over halfway through the third quarter before Trine closed with a 23-7 run and claimed the win. The Polar Bears raced out to a 14-4 lead in the first quarter and eventually led 16-9 after
Madison Wagner made a triple for the Thunder in the final minute. Wagner shrunk the lead to five with a pair of free throws. ONU answered with a pair of three pointers to quickly stretch the lead back to nine and eventually 11 before halftime.
Things looked bleak in the third quarter, Trine struck first with a
Callie Nichols layup but the Polar Bears scored nine of the next twelve to lead by 15 with 3:13 remaining in the quarter. The Thunder offense came to life from there. Sherwood scored three the old fashioned way and added another layup.
Annika Southworth hit a three to cut the lead to six headed to the fourth.
The Thunder kept the momentum in the final frame, scoring the first eight to take their first lead of the game. Sherwood scored first, then Southworth on a fast break. Cole and Marks scored the next two baskets and all eight points came inside the paint. Trine scored 32 of their 50 points in the paint. Nichols scored the next four as Trine maintained a slim lead down the stretch. ONU regained the lead with four free throws over the final two minutes and led 49-48 with just 19 seconds remaining. Trine called timeout to draw up their final shot, Sherwood found Marks in the paint who sank the shot with just five seconds left to take the win.
The Thunder open MIAA play next Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. contest against Kalamazoo inside the MTI Center.
