ANGOLA, Ind. - After a slow start, the Trine University women's basketball team picked up the pace to end the first half as they handled Manchester University 53-42. The win improves the Thunder to 6-4 on the season.

It took over 3 minutes for either team to put points up on the board, but Trine senior Megan Loveberry (Quincy, Mich./Quincy) would drain a three to give the Thunder a lead that they would never relinquish. The Spartans would answer right back but the Thunder would then take an 11-2 lead 7 minutes into the game. The Trine defense would allow just those two points over the course of the first 9:26.

It would be nearly 3 minutes until either team scored again as Manchester ended the scoreless streak with a free throw. After the Spartans pulled within four at 11-7, the teams traded buckets over the next 9 minutes. With the Thunder leading 24-19 with just 1:23 to play in the half, Trine fired off five straight points to end the half up 11.

The second half opened with the two sides again trading baskets through the first 6 minutes, but the scoring soon went silent for nearly 3 minutes of play. The Thunder refused to allow Manchester to get any offense going as they kept their lead at double-digits for most of the second half.

Leading 44-33 with 6:34 remaining, Trine pushed their lead to 17, scoring six straight points and holding Manchester scoreless for nearly 4 minutes. Although the Thunder pushed their lead to 18 with 1:45 to play, the Spartans refused to go quietly, scoring the final six points but the Trine lead was too big.

A trio of seniors in Sydney Spragg (Reading, Mich./Reading), Haley Killingbeck (Poneto, Ind./Southern Wells) and Loveberry led the Thunder, all scoring in double-digits. Spragg led all players with a game-high 17 points of 6-of-10 shooting. Killingbeck earned her first double-double of the season and second of her career. She grabbed a team and individual season-high 12 rebounds while scoring 12 points, blocking four shots and grabbing three steals. Loveberry added 13 points while pulling down five rebounds and making three steals.

Killingbeck's other double-double came on January 22, 2011 at home against Kalamazoo.

The Thunder return to action on December 21 when they host Edgewood College for a 7:00 p.m. game.