ANGOLA, Ind. - A two-sided defensive battle came down to the final seconds as the Trine University women's basketball team fell to Adrian College 41-39. The Thunder fall to 8-6 on the season and 2-3 in the MIAA.

The two border rivals played tough defense throughout the first half, as neither team hit double-digits until LaQwana Dockery hit a jumper for the Bulldogs to give them a 10-7 lead with just seven minutes remaining in the first half. Trine took just their second lead of the game at 11-10 after senior Danielle Senf (Blanchardville, Wis./Pecatonica) converted on a pair of free throws with just under four minute remaining. The two sides traded baskets through the final minutes of the half as freshman Sicily Boyce (Ashley, Ind./Prairie Heights) scored a layup with just 23 seconds remaining to tie the game at 16 all heading into the break. The Trine defense held Adrian to just 20.8 percent shooting from the floor in the first half.

The two sides continued to trade baskets to start the second half as neither team was able to pull ahead by more than three points. Just as one team would take a lead, the other would drive down the floor and regain the lead as the second half saw six lead changes. With 9:11 left in the game, Adrian's Jenn Headley scored on a layup to give the Bulldogs what would be their final lead of the game. With the Bulldogs leading by six with just under three minute to go, Trine rallied back to trail by just two on a jumper by Senf with 1:29 remaining in the game. After Adrian converted one of two free throws, Trine had opportunities to tie the game after the Bulldogs turned the ball over twice with less than 20 seconds to go.

Trine trailed by just two points after Boyce made a free throw with just seven seconds remaining. After Adrian was unable to inbound the ball and was called for five seconds, the Thunder had one final opportunity to tie the game but Senf's shot from the right side of the key bounced off the rim as time expired.  

Boyce and Senf led the Thunder with 11 points apiece. Boyce pulled down a team-high seven rebounds while Senf grabbed six and hauled in a game-high three steals. Junior Megan Loveberry (Quincy, Mich./Quincy) added in seven points. In her first game for the Thunder, Sophomore Hannah Hewes (Fremont, Ind./Fremont) pulled down six rebounds while junior Sydney Spragg (Reading, Mich./Reading) grabbed five.

Defense was the name of the game as both teams, as they struggled to make shots from the field. Both side managed to make just 12 field goals on the afternoon, including a combined 11 in the first half. The Bulldogs shot a season-low 26.1 percent (12-of-46) from the floor and 23.5 percent (4-of-17) from behind the line. Trine hit just 22.2 percent of their shots (12-of-54) from the floor.

The 39 points scored by the Thunder and the 41 points tallied by Adrian is the fewest allowed by either team in 19 meetings all-time between the schools. Adrian now holds the series lead 11-8.

Trine will return to action on January 11 when they travel to Kalamazoo College for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.