ANGOLA, Ind. - In their toughest game of the season to-date, the Trine University women's basketball team fell to #2 Calvin College 64-36, despite holding the Knights to their second fewest points of the year. The loss drops the Thunder to 8-6 on the season and 2-3 in the conference.

The Thunder held their own against the powerful Knights through the opening minutes as the two teams battled back-and-forth. With Trine down just one at 8-7, Calvin would begin to slowly pull away as they hit three straight 3-pointers to take a double-digit lead. The Thunder defense did all they could to hold the Knights as they allowed just eight points in the final seven minute of the half, but the offense also managed just eight points as Calvin led 37-23 at intermission.

The biggest difference in the half was turnovers. Although Trine committed just four more turnovers than the Knights, Calvin was able to turn 11 Thunder errors into 19 points.

It would be a tough start to the second half for the Thunder as they went 6:27 without a point until freshman Alivia Recker (Arlington, Ohio/Arlington) made a free throw. However by that time Calvin had built to a 23 point lead at 47-24. Both defenses would step up in the final 10 minutes of the game as the two sides combined for just 22 points.

Trine was led by Recker who finished with a season-high 13 points and four rebounds. Sophomore Kelsey Henselmeier (Martinsville, Ind./Martinsville) added eight points and two assists on the afternoon. Fellow sophomore Kayla Dunn (Larwill, Ind./Columbia City) finished with six points and a team-high eight rebounds.

The Thunder defense also held the Knights to their fewest field goals of the season. Calvin had been the 8th best scoring team in the country, averaging 78.0 points per game and 83.7 in four conference games. Trine also held Calvin to a season-low 37.3% (25-of-67) from the floor; the Knights had been averaging 47.2 percent, the second best in Division III. Trine also held the reigning MIAA MVP Carissa Verkaik to just 13 points, her second fewest of the year.

Trine will look to rebound when they travel to Saint Mary's on January 9 for a 7:30 p.m. game.