Last weekend, Trinity women’s basketball played their final two home games of the season. On Feb. 14, they had a rematch with Texas Lutheran, who defeated them 78-71 the previous weekend, before facing off against Southwestern on Feb. 15.
Despite a strong first half, the Tigers were yet again unable to get past TLU, falling 79-66. On Saturday, the Tigers honored their two graduating seniors, and they were also able to recover from the previous game by soundly defeating Southwestern 110-56.
Against TLU, Trinity came out strong in the first quarter with a 42% shooting percentage. First-year Livy Sauvageau scored a trio of 3-pointers to secure the Tigers a lead of 21-16 to finish off the first quarter.
“Super proud of the way we started the game. Our first quarter was outstanding. When you’re working on building an overall sense of confidence and focus, those single quarter experiences are valuable,” head coach Cameron Hill said after the game.
TLU took the lead in the second quarter after an 11-point run. The Tigers responded with a three from junior guard Kylie Minter and free throws from senior guard Bailey Timmons to shorten Texas Lutheran’s lead. In the third quarter, Trinity closed the gap just one point, but Texas Lutheran regained their momentum to extend the lead. Trinity was unable to overcome the momentum, falling 79-66.
“Taking the Texas Lutheran experience as a whole, recognizing that we have all the pieces that we need to compete with them and beat them, we just have to do it for four quarters,” Hill said.
Saturday’s contest against Southwestern started with a 10-point run for the Tigers. Southwestern was unable to answer in any way, ending the first quarter with a 30-12 lead. Minter and senior guard Josie Napoli shot 3-3 and 6-7 from deep. Junior forward Natalie Greenwood’s rebound in the second quarter and the team’s shooting efficiency reinforced their lead. The Tigers led by 39 points at halftime. Napoli commented on the team’s performance during the game.
“I think we took pride in starting off hot and playing fast, which hasn’t been our strength all season, but we knew that if we did that, there’s no team in this conference that can kind of compete with us. We take pride, even when we are exhausted, trying to keep balance with shooting. I think this — this game in particular — we were all on the same page of taking good shots while on balance,” Napoli said.
Trinity fiercely suppressed efforts by the Pirates to close the gap, as multiple fast breaks allowed the Tigers to keep a strong lead in the second half. The Tigers did not let up in the fourth quarter, expanding their lead. Napoli led the team offensively with 26 points, closely followed by Minter’s 23 points. By the end of the game, the Tigers’ 110 points made this their highest scoring game this season. Napoli commented on where this win places the team going into the postseason.
“I think how we attack that game sets up our mindset of how we should attack every game moving forward, even if it is against the better teams. It’s one of those games where we’re this is how it’s supposed to feel. I think that sets us up well going forward, especially into the tournament.”
This game marked senior Joise Napoli’s final home game against Southwestern. After graduation, she will pursue an internship with a PR agency run by a Trinity alumna, Japhet Media LLC.
“This team has meant everything to me. I transferred after my freshman year, so I was unsure about my love but for basketball, but coming here just everything made sense. Not even on the court, but off the court, especially with these girls. It was like, this is what this is supposed to feel like. I thank our coach Cam Hill and Bailey Timmons for truly saving my love for basketball because I don’t think I’d still be here today if it wasn’t for them two.”
Senior Bailey Timmons will be continuing her academic career in Trinity’s accounting graduate program. She shared her thoughts on senior night and playing her last home game.
“I was a little bit more emotional that night. It’s crazy because I told people I remember coming in and practicing for the first time, my freshman year, and playing my first home game. This being my last, it just goes by really quick. I’m so grateful at the end of the day for my teammates and for my coaches and the program,” Timmons said.
Hill spoke about the graduating seniors. “They’re both wonderful young women, and they’re going to be missed. I think they’ve set an example for the team to go forward with confidence, and that’s probably the most important thing you can ask for from any graduating class,” Hill said.
Having said goodbye to Calgaard Gym, the Tigers will play on Feb. 21 against St. Thomas, and Feb. 23 versus Colorado College. After that, the next stop is the SCAC Championship Tournament on Feb. 28.
