Woodard scores 24 as Trojans fall at #24 Purdue-Calumet
Greg Gorham
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HAMMOND, Ind. -- With their highest point total in nearly a month, the Trinity International Trojans put up strong numbers, led by Clarissa Woodard's 24 points, but the 24th-ranked Purdue-Calumet Peregrines would knock down 14 three-pointers, defeating TIU 93-63, Saturday afternoon at the PUC Fitness & Recreation Center.
Woodard's 24 points is the most point scored by a Trojan since Dec. 21, when Woodard set a career high with 28 points against Robert Morris. The Trojans (3-14, 0-9 CCAC) got the game underway with the senior's bucket, following a steal on the team's first possession of the game. Purdue-Calumet (14-4, 8-0 CCAC) answered with an 11-0 run to take an early lead that they would hold the rest of the way.
The Peregrines would maintain a double-digit lead throughout much of the first half, although the Trojans would close the gap to eight on a Bri'ana Rowland layup with 11:38 to play in the first half. TIU would keep Purdue-Calumet from pulling away, trailing the Peregrines 39-29 at the half. Woodard posted 10 points in the first half, along with three of her eventual five rebounds on the day.
Daja Johnson cut the PUC lead to eight again, early in the second half with a steal and fast break layup at the 18:59 mark. Purdue-Calumet again made a run, outscoring TIU 11-4 over the next three and a half minutes to take a 52-37 lead. Back-to-back threes from PUC's Cassidy Deno gave the Peregrines a 21-point advantage on the following two possessions, as Trinity was unable to make a run back into the game.
Woodard had a strong second half, scoring 14 points on 6-of-6 shooting and a 2-of-2 performance from the free throw line. The Kokomo, Ind. native was the only TIU player in double figures, as JaToya Woods led the Trojan bench with seven points.
The Trojans return home this Wednesday, January 22, when they host the Olivet Nazarene Tigers, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Meyer Sports Complex.
