SOUTH BEND, Ind. --- The Trinity International University women's basketball team took on the 20th ranked Titans of Indiana University South Bend on Saturday afternoon in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) action. Coming off a 20-point win over Trinity Christian on Wednesday night, TIU looked to put together consecutive wins for the first time since the start of the new year, and keep their postseason hopes alive.

The Trojans struggled greatly in the first six minutes of play as the Titans opened the game on a 16-0 scoring run. Kassandra Ybarra would snap TIU's drought with a three-point basket and ignite a 7-0 Trojan run to end the first quarter.

TIU would turn the ball over nine times in the first half, opening up more opportunities for the Titans. However, the Trojan defense at the three-point arc held firm as IU-South Bend was held to just one-for-six shooting at the arc in the first 20 minutes of play. TIU would find Carly Scheblo, Krystal Walker, and Ybarra from both inside the lane and mid-range as they cut the Titan's lead to just eight points at halftime, 36-28.

Holding on to the ball would continue to be an issue for the Trojans in the second half as they would turnover the ball nine additional times, allowing IU-South Bend to extend their lead back to 15. Ybarra would continue to force her way into the paint to chip away at the Titan lead, and also knocked down a shot from beyond the arc at the buzzer to end the third period, cutting the Titan lead to 59-51.

Back-to-back layups by Scheblo and Dana Percival cut the deficit to just five points with seven minutes to play in regulation, igniting a fierce back-and-forth between the two teams down the stretch. With just over three minutes to play, Taylor Hibicke knocked down consecutive baskets from downtown to pull TIU within just two points. Hibicke would tie the game at 69 after making two free throws after being fouled by IU-South Bend's Emma Fisher. 

With 1:30 to go, Hibicke gave the Trojans their first lead of the day on a fast break layup at 71-69. After the Titans tied the game on a Katie Gard layup and a Hibicke foul, Ybarra stole the ball near midcourt from Gard and scored in the paint while drawing a foul with just three seconds to go. Ybarra would complete the three point play with the free throw as the Trojans rallied for the 74-71 win.

The victory is TIU's 14th of the season, suprasing the team's combined win total over the last two seasons (2). It is also the second win of the year over a top 25 ranked NAIA program, the last coming over then 25th-ranked IU-Northwest back on November 13, 2019, which marked the largest comeback of the season, with TIU overcoming a 24-point deficit at home.

Ybarra led the winning effort with a game-high 19 points, four rebounds, and four steals. Scheblo recorded 17 points and six boards in the win, while Hibikce recorded 12 points.

TIU returns to action on Wednesday, February 5 as they visit the Judson Eagles in Elgin. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30PM.

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.