ANGOLA, Ind. - In one of the biggest wins in recent years, the Trine University women's basketball team knocked off #15 Hope College 52-50. It marks the first win for the Thunder over Hope since 1991. Trine improves to 11-13 on the season and 5-10 in the conference.

Defense played a key role in the first half as Trine was the first to score nearly four minutes into the game. Hope answered right back with a basket from the long range but the Thunder would counter as junior Sydney Spragg (Reading, Mich./Reading) hit a layup to re-take the lead. The Thunder would go on a run, hold the Flying Dutch scoreless as they built to a 14-3 lead. Hope would hit a pair of free throws with 10 minutes to go to break the scoreless streak.

The Thunder would score on a fast break layup to push the lead back to double-digits. Hope would make a run of their own as they scored nine unanswered points. Trine would hit three from down town in the final five minutes as they build to a 10 point lead heading into the break.

Hope would cut into the lead to start the half, but a three from junior Megan Loveberry (Quincy, Mich./Quincy) pushed the Trine lead back to 11. Hope would out-score the Thunder 9-1 to cut the lead all the way down to three. The two sides would battle it out down to the wire as Hope tied the game at 46 all on a free throw. Hope would hit a jumper with 2:46 to go to give them their first lead since early on in the game.

Senior Danielle Senf (Blanchardville, Wis./Pecatonica) hit a pair of free throws to give Trine the lead 49-48 with 2:20 to go. The Flying Dutch would answer right back as they hit a layup to regain the lead with two minutes remaining. After both teams turned the ball over, Spragg came up huge for the Thunder as she hit a pair of free throws to give Trine the lead with just 20 seconds remaining.

Senf would hit another free throw to give the Thunder a two point led with 10 seconds remaining, but the Thunder defense forced a turnover in the final seconds to knock off the Flying Dutch.

Spragg led the Thunder with 12 points and a game-high four steals. Sophomore Megan Engle (Parker City, Ind./Monroe Central) added in 11 points on a near perfect 5-of-6 shooting. Senf also scored in double figures with 10 points while dishing out three assists. Junior Haley Killingbeck (Poneto, Ind./Southern Wells) also had three assists to go along with a team-high seven rebounds.

Trine forced 21 Hope turnovers, converting them into 16 points. The Thunder shot 46 percent (13-for-28) in the first half, finishing the game shooting 40 percent (18-for-45) from the field.

For Trine, the win marks the first time they have defeated Hope since joining the MIAA, dropping the first 18 meetings.

Trine will close out the season on the road as they travel to Alma College for a 3:00 p.m. game.