BANNOCKBURN, Ill. --- The Trinity International University women's basketball team took on the eighth-ranked Cougars of St. Xavier on Wednesday night in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) action. Coming off a narrow one-point victory at Roosevelt last Saturday night, the Trojans looked to extend their win streak to five games, which would tie the season-high.

The Cougars, known for their fast speed and ability to push the ball in transition got out to a quick start in the opening period. Burying four baskets from beyond the arc, SXU shot 68% from the floor and blocked a pair of Alina Jahkne layups early. TIU responded with a solid shooting performance of their own, but could not match the Cougars accuracy.

St. Xavier stretched their lead to as much as 24 points in the second quarter, but began to slow down. Kassandra Ybarra's speed and agility to maneuver her way to the basket helped cut into the Cougars lead, despite another tough shooting performance in the period. TIU entered the halftime break trailing 57-35.

Down by 22, the Trojans came to life in the third quarter. With SXU struggling to hit their shot after a dominant first half, Dana Percival shot 60% from the floor in the period for seven points, while Louisa Schmidt positioned the TIU offense under the hoop for easy layups with five points off the bench. Outscoring the Cougars 25-13 in the period, the Trojans cut their 22 point halftime deficit to just ten.

Taylor Hibicke led the TIU offense inside the paint going into the fourth, facing off against one of the fastest offenses in the nation. After hitting four three-point shots in the third quarter, TIU could only hit one as the SXU offense began to show signs of life down the stretch. St. Xavier would capitalize on their eight steals on the night to hold off the Trojan's comeback attempt and hand TIU the 90-74 loss.

Ybarra notched a team-high 20 points and eight rebounds in the loss. Jahkne recorded 14 points and three assists, with Percival scoring 12 points. Taylor Hibicke ended the game with 10 points and a team-high nine rebounds.

The Trojans, with three games remaining in the regular season, visit the University of St. Francis Fighting Saints on Saturday, February 15 at 1:00PM. TIU can clinch a berth in the 2020 CCAC Women's Basketball Tournament with a win in one of their final three contests, as well as qualification for the NCCAA postseason with victories in two of their final three games.

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.