Dec. 13, 2008

Final Stats

ADRIAN, Mich. - The Adrian College women's basketball team made an amazing second half comeback to defeat the Trine Thunder on Saturday afternoon at the Merillat Center by the final score of 55-54.

Trine took the lead early in the first half. Anita Stamps kept the Bulldogs in the game early by scoring the first five points of the game for the Bulldogs.

Jennifer Headley gave Adrian their first lead of the game at the 13 minute mark. Headley was able to score back-to-back baskets for the Bulldogs. Stamps made a lay up and Megan Bouwens scored her first two points of the game. The 8-0 run by the Bulldogs forced Trine to call a timeout.

The timeout proved to be a good decision as Trine responded with a 9-0 run forcing Adrian to call a timeout.

The Thunder decided to switch their defense into a 2-3 zone after the timeout. The zone caused an Adrian turnover which led to a Trine basket. The Thunder retook the lead 19-16.

JaLisha Belle ended the Thunder run with a second chance lay up with 7:13 left in the first half.

Jordan Loveberry helped extend the Thunder lead late in the first half. Loveberry hit back-to-back three pointers and added a lay up in the final four minutes of the first half.

Due to the hot shooting of Loveberry, Trine was able to take a 32-23 lead into halftime.

Danielle Senf led all scores throughout the first half with 10. Loveberry scored eight for the Thunder, and Sarah Howe added seven.

Anita Stamps led the Bulldogs with seven points. Megan Bouwens led the team with six rebounds, Jennifer Perrin added five boards.

The Bulldogs out rebounded the Thunder 23-to-19, but Trine shot a better percentage from the floor in every aspect of the first half.

Trine shot 41 percent (12-for29) from the floor including hitting 3-of-6 from three point range and 5-of-7 from the charity stripe. Adrian was held to 32 percent shooting (10-for-31). The Bulldogs were 1-for-6 from the three-point line, and 2-of-7 from the free throw line.

Trine remained hot from the field as they started the second half on a 6-0 run off two straight three point baskets. Howe and Liz Gehrig each hit from long range. Katie Ross responded with a three pointer of her own for Adrian to make the score 38-26.

Gehrig recorded an old fashioned three point play after being fouled on a lay up by Ross. Gehrig gave the Thunder their biggest lead of the game after hitting a three pointer at the 14:23 mark. Trine led 45-26 after the three pointer.

Ashley McClarren grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to cut into the lead, but Gehrig responded with a jumper that kept the lead at 19. Adrian called a timeout at the 13:34 mark in attempt to change the momentum of the game.

The Bulldogs picked up their defense intensity as they were able to force four Trine turnovers in two minutes. Good defense sparked a 7-0 run for the Bulldogs. Stamps played a large role by making a steal, a lay up, and a three pointer during the run.

Liz Hafeli cut the Trine lead to 47-39 with 7:18 left to play. Adrian used great defense to spark yet another Bulldog run. Stamps made two steals and followed up with two lay ups to cut the lead to 47-44. Perrin continued the Bulldog defensive pressure with a steal that cut the Trine lead to 47-46 after she hit two free throws. A free throw from Hafeli gave the Bulldogs a brief lead, but a free throw from Senf tied the game at 48-48.

Trine tried to escape with a win as Gehrig hit two free throws and Kristen Julian added a lay up to give the Thunder a 52-48 lead with 1:21 left in the game. The Bulldogs fought back as Hafeli cut the lead to 52-50 with a jumper with a minute to play.

A late turnover forced Adrian to send Howe to the foul line. Howe made both free throw attempts to give Trine a four point lead. Stamps kept Adrian alive with a lay up with 11 seconds to go in the second half.

The biggest play of the game came after a Thunder timeout. Trine mishandled the inbounds pass with nine second left on the play clock. Adrian gained possession of the ball with nine seconds left to play and a two point deficit.

Perrin drove through the left side of the lane and made a lay up while being fouled on the play! Perrin stepped up to the free throw line and nailed the shot to give Adrian the 55-54 victory.

Stamps led all scores with 18 points. She also had four steals, two blocks, three assists, and three rebounds.

The Bulldogs will return to action with a road game at Earlham on Tuesday, December 16th at 6:00 p.m.