HOLLAND, Mich. – The #11 Trine University women's basketball team used a 29-19 third quarter advantage, 23 points from senior All-American Sidney Wagner and a double-double from Hailey Cole to defeat #15 Hope College on Saturday. Cole posted 12 points and 12 rebounds and Wagner added 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks to go with her season high scoring. Trine is 21-2 (14-0 MIAA) and has won 13 consecutive games. The Thunder have clinched a share of the MIAA regular season title and will host the MIAA semifinals and championship game.
 
Trine scored 48 of 80 points in the paint and shot 53.3% from the floor, the Thunder out rebounded the Dutch 42-29 while forcing 15 turnovers and blocking 5 shots.
 
Wagner scored 10 first quarter points and seven of the first 10 and grabbed three steals, Cole made a layup to give Trine a 14-7 lead, their biggest of the quarter. Cole assisted Wagner on a three toward the end of the frame, Wagner then found Addison Hutson on the next possession for two more.
 
Hope took a slim one point lead to open the second quarter, Katie Tate evened the score with a free throw and Sierra Hinds regained control with a triple. Trine led 25-20. The Dutch again responded to take a 26-25 lead. Cole scored two in the paint and Hinds added another three to regain the lead once more as the power struggle continued. Cole added five rebounds as she neared the double-double at the break. Allison Capouch beat the halftime buzzer to give Trine a 33-28 lead.
 
In the latest installment of dominant third quarters, Trine scored the first 8 points in the paint, and then Wagner nailed back-to-back triples to give Trine a 47-34 lead. Cole scored eight in the third to secure her first career double-double. Trine held a 62-47 lead heading to the fourth quarter.
 
The Thunder opened with a 7-0 run to squash any hope left in the Dutch. Wagner scored four more and grabbed two more rebounds to solidify her impressive performance.
 
Trine can clinch the outright MIAA regular season next week with a win in either of their two games. They travel to Olivet on Wednesday night before hosting Kalamazoo on Saturday for senior day.