ANGOLA, Ind. – Madison Wagner exploded for a career-high 21 points to lead the Trine University women's basketball team to a signature win over #7 Hope College on Wednesday night. The Thunder (10-3, 4-0 MIAA) now have sole possession of the top spot in the MIAA standings. Their next opponent, Alma College, pulled the upset on Calvin University to leave the Thunder as the lone conference unbeaten. Hope drops to 11-2, 4-1 MIAA on the year.
 
The win marks Trine's 22^nd consecutive MIAA win, the second longest streak in program history. It is also the Thunder's fourth consecutive over the Flying Dutch, the longest such streak for the program.
 
Wagner buried four of five three pointers in the contest and Annika Southworth pitched in 17 points on 3-of-6 shooting from deep. The duo spearheaded the Thunder's 9-of-21 (42.9%) from downtown in the game. Trine held a commanding 43-33 rebounding advantage that was anchored by Olivia Marks' 11 boards. The game featured 10 ties and 11 lead changes.
 
The first half saw both teams score 14 points in each quarter, Hope opened with an 11-4 lead, Southworth and Wagner pulled Trine even with a 7-0 run. Southworth started at the free throw line and Wagner hit triple number one. Number two came with 27 seconds left in the quarter to tie the game at 14.
 
Ally Capouch, who is no stranger to three pointers, scored three a little differently with an and-one layup that gave Trine a 19-16 lead in the second frame. The junior ranks seventh all-time with 131 made three pointers. She added two more tonight. Trine grew the lead to five with baskets from Hailey Cole and Sophie Gesell. The Dutch regained the lead with a 7-0 run but Wagner answered back with triple number three to put the Thunder in front once more. Marks scored four points on the night, two coming with 10 seconds left to send the game to halftime tied at 28.
 
The third quarter was the most evenly matched, with Trine leading most of the way but never by more than four. Hope struck first with a three but Capouch had one of her own to retie the game. Wagner broke a 33-all tie with an old fashioned three point play. Gracey Metz pushed the lead to four with a nice drive through the lane for a tough right handed shot that fell through the net. Hope would regain the lead and ultimately hold it entering the fourth quarter up 42-41.
 
Southworth was limited to four points through the first three quarters but nearly doubled that number on her first shot of the final stanza. She caught a long pass from Cole off an offensive rebound and nailed a triple. She then collected a rebound and led a quick transition to the same spot and made another. On Trine's next possession Southworth drew a foul and made both free throws. Her eight points came in just 1:13 and gave Trine a 49-44 lead. The seesaw battle continued as Hope was able to score in the paint multiple times and regain the lead.
 
Triples from Capouch and Southworth kept Trine in the back and forth battle and the large home crowd energized. Wagner pushed a two point lead to three possessions with a pair of free throws and then sank her fourth three over a closing Dutch defender that erupted the crowd and drew a timeout by the guests with 1:54 left. Hope was forced to foul to try a maximize possessions to mount a rally but Trine made seven of ten free throws and closed out the win.
 
Trine will travel to Alma College on Saturday to take on the Scots at 1 p.m.