PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. --- Following an impressive opening weekend to tip-off the 2021-22 season, the TIU women's basketball team opened up Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) play on Wednesday night as they visited the Trinity Christian College Trolls. Averaging a 25 point margin of victory early in the season, the Trojans would get their first big test of the season against a highly talented Trolls team.

Things would not start off well for TIU as they fell behind 17-2 in the first period. The Trojans responded with a 16-5 run late in the first quarter and into the second, pulling within two points of tying the game. While able to slow down TCC's three-point shooting game, TIU struggled to contain reigning CCAC player of the year Gabby Kreykes in the paint, heading into halftime trailing 34-26.

Both offenses would slow down in the third period as teams exchanged turnovers into the second half. The Trojans would play their best down the stretch, cutting a double-digit deficit down to two points for a second time. While Taylor Hibicke would record 12 points in the final ten minutes of action, TIU struggled to pull down key rebounds late, allowing Trinity Christian to pull away late and hand the Trojans the 69-58 loss.

Hibicke would end the night with a team-high 14 points and nine rebounds in the loss, while Da'Naria Washington posted nine points and seven boards in her CCAC debut. Carly Scheblo and Alina Jahnke both scored eight points, with Jahnke posting seven rebounds, as Daniela Lopez dished out four assists.

ADDITIONAL GAME NOTES

• TIU falls to 16-15 with their loss to Trinity Christian on Wednesday night.

• The Trojans loss to TCC snaps a three game-winning streak for TIU against the Trolls. TCC's last victory prior to tonight against TIU came on Jan. 20, 2018 in a 76-47 win in Palos Heights.

• TIU has now lost their last three CCAC opening games dating back to the 2019-20 season. The Trojans last win to open league play came on Nov. 14, 2018 in an 80-70 home win over Calumet St. Joseph.

• TIU outscored Trinity Christian 21-16 off of turnovers.

• TCC outrebounded the Trojans 15-7 in offensive rebounds.

• With nine rebounds on Wednesday night, Taylor Hibicke picked up the 300th rebound of her collegiate career. The junior guard from Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin is averaging 5.6 rebounds per game in her career, the fifth best mark in program history.

• Alina Jahnke recorded one block in Wednesday's road loss, the eighth straight game she has blocked a shot attempt dating back to last season. It is the fourth longest streak of games with a block for Jahnke in her career.

UP NEXT

The Trojans (2-1) return to action on Saturday night as they visit the Fighting Saints of the University of St. Francis (IL) in CCAC action. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00pm CT at the Sullivan Center in Joliet, with the game being streamed LIVE on USF SportsNet.
 

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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.