DEERFIELD, Ill. - Senior guard
JaToya Woods scored a career-high 24 points, including ten in the final period, to lead Trinity International to a 92-54 victory over the Maranatha Baptist (Wisc.) Sabercats, Thursday night inside Van Dixhorn Arena.
Box Score | Season StatsIt was a career night for Woods, who added in six assists and seven steals, both matching previous career highs for the senior. Two other Trojans finished in double figures, with sophomore
Nika Bracun tallying 18 points on a 6-of-10 performance from the field, and junior
Rayelle Ross, who chipped in with 14 points.
The Trojans (4-6) held a narrow three-point halftime lead, before pulling away in the second half. Trinity outscored their opponents by a 33-4 margin in the fourth quarter to put the game away for good. The defense forced 37 turnovers from Maranatha Baptist (2-2), the most by any opponent this season, which led to 34 points on the other end of the floor.
The Sabercats held a narrow lead in the second quarter, when a three-pointer from MBU's Stacy Reinke put the visitors in front 17-15 with 7:56 left in the first half. Trinity would go on to lead by as much as six before the halftime break, but a half-court heave from Reinke sliced the Trojans advantage in half, as TIU went into the locker room up by only three, 34-31.
Back-to-back threes from Woods and Bracun kick-started a 10-0 run to start the third quarter, putting the Trojans ahead 44-31 at the 7:55 mark. The Sabercats would work the deficit back down to five, with a jumper with 2:02 on the clock to make it a 51-46 score. Over the next six minutes spanning the third and fourth periods, Trinity would pull away, outscoring Maranatha 23-4 en route a comfortable victory.
With a full four weeks until their next home game, the Trojans will hit the road beginning this Saturday, when they resume CCAC play with a trip to Calumet St. Joseph. Tipoff against the Crimson Wave is set for 1:00 p.m.