WILMINGTON, Ohio-- The Trine women's basketball team closed out Wilmington late to earn a 61-53 victory in the championship game of the Fred Raizk Memorial Tournament Sunday afternoon.
The Thunder closed on an 8-0 run over the final 1:31 to earn the victory. The win extended Trine's winning-streak to six games, matching the team's longest winning-streak in the Division III era (2004-present). Alivia Recker (Arlington, Ohio/Arlington) was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after leading the Thunder with 13 points in the championship game. The senior tied her season-high on 5-of-11 shooting and added three rebounds. Brittany Jefferson scored 12 points to pace Wilmington. Trine improved to 9-3 overall with the victory. The Fighting Quakers fell to 5-7 on the season.
Ashley Elliott (Scottsburg, Ind./Scottsburg) matched Recker's performance with 13 points on the afternoon for the Thunder. The MIAA's leader in free-throw percentage knocked down 7-of-8 from the charity stripe, including several key free tosses down the stretch. Hayley Martin (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb) added 10 points, six rebounds and three assists. Martin was also named to the All-Tournament team.
Ja'Cole Taylor was the only other player to reach double-figures for Wilmington, as she added 10 points. Mary Moyer added nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds before fouling out. The Quakers outrebounded Trine by a 41-35 margin.
The Thunder forced Wilmington into 20 turnovers, which Trine was able to convert into 20 points. The Thunder also held a 28-20 edge in scoring in the paint.
A 13-0 first half run paced Trine to a 10-point lead in the second quarter. The Thunder held the Quakers scoreless for a span of 7:32 to turn a three-point deficit into the double-digit margin. Recker knocked down a pair of threes and added a free throw during that stretch as Trine took a 19-9 lead with 7:34 to play in the second quarter.
Wilmington would fight back within 28-25 at the half. The Quakers were able to keep within striking distance entering the deciding fourth quarter as Trine held a 44-37 lead after three.
The fourth quarter opened with the Fighting Quakers firing on all cylinders as they used a 12-2 run to take the lead. A three by Cole made the score 49-46 with 5:24 to play.
Elliott had the answer for Trine, splitting a pair of free throws and scoring on a layup to tie the score. The two teams would then trade a pair of buckets, with the game tied 53-53 heading to the deciding stretch with 1:52 to play.
Elliott came through again with a big layup, scoring off a pass from Cassidy Williams (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold) to give the Thunder the lead for good with 1:32 remaining. A steal by Taylor Cole (Mount Pleasant, Mich./Shepherd) and a forced turnover on back-to-back defensive possessions put the Quakers in a position where they had to foul.
Cole knocked down a pair of free throws to push the lead to four with 21 seconds left. Elliott iced the game by knocking down all four of her free throw attempts as the Thunder defense got three more stops to seal the victory.
Trine returns to MIAA play this Wednesday, Jan. 6 when the Thunder travel to Grand Rapids, Mich. to face 11th-ranked Calvin. The Knights are the defending MIAA Champions. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m.