BANNOCKBURN, Ill. --- Sometimes, all you need is a lucky bounce. That's what the TIU women's basketball team got on Wednesday night as they picked up their first Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) win of the season, in a nail bitter against the Trolls of Trinity Christian. Having started the season 0-5 in league play, the Trojans were eager to snap their skid and jump up the conference standings.

Both teams jockeyed for control of the lead throughout the first quarter, with the Trojan defense slowing down the Trolls at most shot attempts. Running their offense in the paint through Alina Jahnke, TIU held a 15-13 lead after the first ten minutes. The Trojans continued their stellar defensive play as they held Trinity Christian to just 12% shooting from the floor in the second period. After struggling to find their three-point shot in recent games, the Trojans put the ball in the hands of Kelsey Kelley early, as she sank three baskets from beyond the arc in the game, helping give TIU a narrow 28-24 halftime lead.

The Trolls found life in the third quarter, running their game plan through reigning CCAC and NCCAA Player of the Week Gabby Kreykes. TCC held TIU to just three field goals in the third, but Daniela Lopez hit a critical three-point bucket at the end of the period to cut Trinity Christian's lead down to 41-40. As the game came down to its final minutes, free throw shooting became crucial to victory. 

The Trojans would fall behind by ten points with six and a half minutes to go, but rallied on a 10-0 run capped by three consecutive three-point baskets from Jahnke and Taylor Hibicke. TIU took a three-point lead on a Carly Scheblo free throw, but faced uncertainty after TCC's Jasmine Glover scored on a layup at the final buzzer with a foul. However, Glover missed the game-tying free throw, allowing Trojan Nation to exhale in relief as TIU escaped with the narrow 64-63 win.

Jahnke led the Trojans with an 18-point, 11 rebound double-double, plus a historic eight block performance. Lopez knocked down 15 points with seven assists, while Kelley drained 11 points.
 

ADDITIONAL GAME NOTES

• With today's exciting win over Trinity Christian, the Trojans earned their eighth win all-time against TCC. The Trolls still lead the series 14-8.

• Alina Jahnke's eight blocks made school history in the win. Her defensive effort set program records for most blocks in a single game against a CCAC opponent, most in a single home game, and most in a win.

• Jahnke's eight block performance gives her 50 on the season, third most in a single-season in program history, surpassing her own mark of 49 during the 2018-19 season. Jahnke also holds the three of the four best single blocking seasons in team history.

• Jahnke's double-double is her sixth of the season, tied with TCC's Gabby Kreykes for most in the CCAC.

• Daniela Lopez's 15 points are a new career-high, surpassing her previous high mark of 11 against Cardinal Stritch last week. Her seven assists are also a new career record.

• Kelsey Kelley's 11 points are a new career-high, passing her previous record of ten against Judson on Feb. 5, 2020.

UP NEXT

The Trojans (4-8) return to action on Friday afternoon, January 29 as they visit the Eagles of Emmaus Bible College in non-conference action. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00pm CT from Pollard Fieldhouse in Dubuque, Iowa, and can be watched LIVE on Emmaus Eagles Live.

Visit TIUtrojans.com to stay up to date with the latest TIU women's basketball news and schedule updates.

Follow the Trojans online and on social media!

   Facebook - Trinity International Athletics

   Twitter - @TIUBasketball_W   @TIUTrojans

   Instagram - TIU Athletics    @tiuwbb

   Snapchat - @TIUtrojans

   YouTube - TIU Athletics

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.