ANGOLA, Ind. - The Trine University women's basketball team lost a nail-biter to visiting MIAA conference rival Alma College 58-53. The loss puts the Thunder at 9-8 overall on the year and 3-5 in conference action.

Trine would lead the game off with the opening bucket, but Alma would tie it up quickly, and would hold onto the lead the entire first half. Although the Thunder defense kept the deficit close, tying the game twice, but were unable to take a lead. The big story for the first half for the Thunder was getting buckets to fall, as they shot just 25.9% from the field.

The second half opened with the Thunder trailing by 10, which would be Alma's biggest lead of the game. Trine came out firing however, going on a 12-0 run and keeping the Scots scoreless for nearly six minutes. During their run, Trine would take only their second lead of the game with the score 32-30. The Thunder would hold onto the lead until Alma tied it up at 47-47 with 4:38 to go in the game. From there, the two teams traded leads back and forth, until with 1:42 to go. Trine senior Sydney Spragg hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 53. But Alma would then make 5-of-6 free throws in the final 1:28 to take the lead for good as the Thunder were unable to convert again.

Spragg the way for the Thunder with a game-high 21 points, including making 9-of-10 from the free throw line. Fellow senior Haley Killingbeck (Poneto, Ind./Southern Wells) added eight points of her own, along with a game-high three blocks and three assists. Sophomore Kelsey Henselmeier (Martinsville, Ind./Martinsville) chipped in six points along with eight rebounds. Senior Megan Loveberry (Quincy, Mich./Quincy) led the Thunder with nine rebounds, which tied for game-high, and also added five points and two steals. Freshman Alivia Recker (Arlington, Ohio/Arlington) added six points of her own, and also had a game-high three steals.

The Thunder made just 32.8% (19-of-58) from the floor, compared to 36.8% (21-for-57) for Alma.

Trine will next play host to third ranked Hope College on Saturday January 19 with tip off set for 1:00 p.m.