Karissa Steffas leads Women's Basketball to 70-64 victory over Trine in the season opener

By Ashley Birchmeier

FRANKLIN, Ind. —Junior Karissa Steffas led the Ohio Northern women's basketball team to a 70-64 season opening victory over Trine (Ind.) in the night cap of the Franklin (Ind.) Tip-Off Classic Saturday night.

Three Polar Bears scored in double digits in the victory, Steffas had 14, junior Brooke Espenschied had 12, and senior Jordan Kimes added 10.

The Polar Bears improve to 1-0 on the season, while Trine falls to 0-1.

Ohio Northern jumped to a 8-0 lead to start the game but Trine battled back pulling within three, 18-15.

The Thunder held ONU scoreless for just over three minutes as it was able to gain its first lead of the game 20-18.

Sophomore Britt Lauck was able to break the scoreless drought for the Polar Bears as she made a three-pointer that gave ONU the one point advantage at 21-20.

Trine went into halftime with a 37-34 lead.

Espenschied led ONU to start the second half as she scored the first four points of the half giving the Polar Bears the one point advantage 38-37.

The lead didn't last long as Trine's Kayla Dunn was able to hit a pair of free-throws to put the Thunder back on top 41-40.

The two teams exchanged points for most of the second half, but a layup and made free-throw from freshman Amy Bullimore put ONU on top by four (65-61) with just under four minutes to go in the game.

The Polar Bears out scored Trine in the second half 36-27.

ONU out rebounded Trine 43-32, as Steffas had a game-high nine rebounds and Kimes added eight.

Ohio Northern is next in action Sunday as they take on Franklin at 5pm in the Franklin Tipp-Off Classic.