ANGOLA, Ind. – The 21^st ranked Trine University women's basketball team fell to 9^th ranked Hope College in Saturday evening's MIAA Championship Game. Trine (22-5, 15-1 MIAA) was led by Ally Capouch with 22 points in the loss. Hope (24-3, 14-2 MIAA) claims the MIAA's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, though the Thunder are in line for an at-large selection to the tournament on Monday afternoon.
 
Annika Southworth added 15 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Madison Wagner had eight points and a pair of blocks.
 
The Thunder dug out of a 9-0 hole in the first quarter with triples from Capouch and Wagner. Southworth added a layup later and Capouch buried another three to pull Trine within 15-12. Trine trailed 20-12 after the first frame, an evenly matched second quarter saw Trine once again cut the lead to three but get no closer. Capouch scored five more, two at the line and three from beyond the arc. Hope led 32-24 at the break.
 
Trine outscored Hope 24-23 in a high scoring third quarter. A back and forth affair meant Trine was unable to mount a rally despite nine points from Capouch and eight from Southworth. Hope pulled away with a 21-14 advantage in the fourth quarter to take the win.
 
Trine is ranked 25^th in the NCAA National Power Index and currently own one of the 21 at-large bids. The NCAA will announce the 64-team field on Monday afternoon at 2:30 p.m.