The Tigers’ double-digit win streak in women’s basketball ended in a 50-49 loss to Southwestern University Friday, Jan. 16, at home. They had 11 straight wins; including two wins in conference play the previous weekend before the loss.
The Tigers held a 49-45 lead with only 3 minutes 27 seconds left in the game, but they were scoreless from that point on, missing the final five shots they took from the field.
“We kind of had a bad shooting game overall. I think we shot 22 percent in the first half, and honestly I think that is what set us back a little bit, because we shot way better in the second half,” said junior forward Anecia Richardson. “At the end, they made the shots that they needed to make, and we didn’t.”
Richardson and junior guard Caitlin Barrett each contributed 10 points for the Tigers in the loss. Barrett was 3-5 from behind the arc with four assists and two steals. Richardson hit 4-8 from the field and led the team with seven rebounds.
Senior guard Lauren Splawn also contributed nine points and was 3-5 from behind the arc. “We were obviously disappointed to lose, but we just erased it from our memory as soon as we could. We knew that we had to come out with a lot of energy against Texas Lutheran University, and we wanted to get a win back since we lost to them last year in the conference championships,” said senior guard Hannah Coley.
The Tigers rebounded and won 65-62 Saturday against TLU in a SCAC game.
“Everybody who went into the game had a great attitude and played with intensity and enthusiasm,” said head coach Cameron Hill. “As a coach it is hard to even put into words how proud you are when your team has a great reaction to a really tough game, especially against another really good team.”
TLU held a slight 36-33 lead at the half, and both teams were shooting around 40 percent from the field.
Trinity opened the second half with a 7-0 run, but after that run they trailed for much of the half, but never by more than five points.
With just under two minutes left in the game, Barrett hit a three-pointer and Richardson made two-free throw attempts to push Trinity’s lead to 65-61. TLU would add a late free throw, but the Tigers held on for the win.
Barrett led the Tigers with 15 points, four rebounds and four assists, with Richardson, Splawn and sophomore guard Monica Houlgin also in double-digits. Senior center Taylor Hollins had nine points and 12 rebounds off the bench including the final rebound of the game to seal the win.
On Tuesday, Jan. 20, they beat Schreiner University 58-45 in Kerrville, Texas.
During winter break the Tigers were hard at work playing their first home conference games. They finished 7-0 over the break.
“[We had] a focus on trying to get better every day, getting better every practice, and not settling with what we have done in the past,” Coley said.
The Tigers are now 13-3 overall and 4-1 in conference.
The Tigers play against Centenary College at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan 23, and Colorado College at 6 p.m Saturday, Jan. 24 at home.
