DEERFIELD, Ill. - With a six-point advantage going into the fourth period, Trinity International was unable to hold the lead, ultimately falling 70-69 to the Judson Eagles on Tuesday night inside Van Dixhorn Arena.
Box Score | Season Stats
Marlou Peters recorded her first double-double of the season and third of her career, leading the Trojans (2-5, 0-3 CCAC) with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Sarina Falvo finished with 17 points while
Arielle Miree came off the bench to score 14 along with a team-high three assists.
Trinity got off to a slow start, going 1-for-5 with a pair of turnovers over the first four minutes of play, as Judson (6-4, 2-1 CCAC) took a 10-2 advantage in the opening minutes. The Eagles would lead by as much as ten in the first quarter, 16-6 with 3:54 to play, but the Trojans would respond with a 7-2 run to get back into the game. A pair of buckets from Peters and Miree would help to bring Trinity back to within four, 21-17 at the end of the first period.
The Trojan defense was key in the second quarter to putting the home team in front, allowing Judson just one field goal over an eight-minute stretch. Trinity scored ten unanswered to move in front, 32-30 at the 3:34 mark, after Miree's layup-and-foul. JU's Kelli Ludwig would keep the Trojans from leading at the half however, hitting a three with just 16 seconds left to even the score at 35-35.
Judson would edge back out in front to start the second half, but a 10-2 run midway through the third period would put Trinity back on top 48-42, following a Falvo three-pointer and a Peters layup. A pair of free throws from Peters with 1:57 left in the period would give Trinity their largest lead of the night at 54-46.
Trinity would hold a narrow lead until the 3:43 mark of the fourth quarter, when Starletta Keene would hit a game-tying three-pointer for the Eagles, 62-62. Miree would put the Trojans back in front after a 1-for-2 trip to the free throw line, but Keene scored on Judson's next possession and the Eagles would eventually go in front 66-63. A layup from Peters followed by another from
Tashyra Burrough on the Trojans' next possession would edge Trinity back out in front, then a pair of
Nika Bracun free throws gave TIU a 69-66 lead with just 23 seconds to play. Judson would respond with a quick layup, followed by a steal of the defensive end and another score to suddenly move back in front, 70-69. Trinity would get one look at a game-winning score, but the last-second shot would fall off the mark.
The Trojans will take off for Thanksgiving Break, before stepping back into CCAC play on Wednesday, November 30, when they visit the Roosevelt Lakers at 5:30 p.m.
