CHICAGO, Ill. —- The Trinity International University women's basketball team gave it their all on Wednesday night as the opened up Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) play against the 17th ranked Saint Xavier Cougars.

The Trojans struggled greatly in the opening period, being held to just five total points while the Cougars jumped out to a 25 point lead. TIU was able to recover as they scored 18 in the second quarter behind Alina Jahnke and Carly Scheblo inside. However St. Xavier continued to attack from both short and long range, on a night where the Cougars buried six baskets from beyond the arc.

Momentum began to swing in the Trojans favor entering the second half. Taylor Hibicke and Kassandra Ybarra combined for six three point buckets, while TIU outrebounded SXU 27-13 in half, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. While the Trojans outscored the Cougars 49-38 in the second half, it was not enough to make up the 19 point deficit TIU faced at halftime as the Trojans dropped their CCAC opener by a score of 80-72.

Hibicke led the way with a double-double, including a game-high 26 points and ten rebounds. Jahnke also notched a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Ybarra recorded 13 points and nine boards, and Sheblo tallied another 12 points.

The Trojans return to non-conference action on Saturday, November 9 as they travel to Lansing, Michigan to take on the Great Lakes Christian College Crusaders for the second time this season at 12:00PM. TIU defeated the Crusaders by a score of 87-70 back on October 25 in their season opener.

Trinity International University is a comprehensive, national university affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America and located in Bannockburn, Illinois, 25 miles north of Chicago. TIU educates men and women to engage in God's redemptive work in the world by cultivating academic excellence, Christian faithfulness and lifelong learning.