BANNOCKBURN, Ill. --- The TIU women's basketball team returned home to Van Dixhorn Arena on Saturday afternoon as they played their first Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) game of the season on their home court against the Roosevelt Lakers. Having lost their last three games following a 2-0 start, the Trojans knew they would have to get out to a fast start to get back to .500.

Trinity led from start to finish with one of their best shooting performances of the season and overwhelming control over rebounding in the game. Despite 24 turnovers on the day, the Trojans tied their season-high with 26 first quarter points against a conference opponent and 50% shooting from the floor. Much of TIU's success on offense came from beyond the arc, where the blue and white made eight three-point baskets in the first half, building a 46-29 lead into halftime.

Aniyjha Graves led the Trojan attack at the basket in the third quarter with eight points, including a pair of three-point shots. Trinity's ability to out hustle the Lakers for rebounds gave Roosevelt limited second chance scoring opportunities on a day where the visitors shot just 29% from the field. With excellent ball distribution and stellar defense, the Trojans would roll to victory 79-62, picking up their first conference win of the new season.

Graves led the afternoon with a game-high 20 points in the win for Trinity as one of five Trojans to score in double-digits. Alina Jahnke posted 16 points and eight rebounds, while Taylor Hibicke notched a 14 point, 11 rebounds double-double. Da'Naria Washington also posted a double-double with 11 points and 11 boards, as Carly Scheblo notched 11 points and six assists in the win.

ADDITIONAL GAME NOTES

• Saturday's win marked just the fifth win for the Trojans over Roosevelt in school history. The Lakers still lead the all-time series 13-5.

• Trinity's 13 made three-point baskets against the Lakers were a season-high, marking the first time since Jan. 17, 2021 against Trinity Christian that the Trojans have hit at least 13 shots from beyond the arc.

• The Trojans led all 40 minutes of Saturday's game. TIU's largest lead stood at 21 points with just over a minute to go in regulation.

• Alina Jahnke joined the 1,000 career point club in Trinity's win with her 16 point performance against the Lakers. The Borkum, Germany native is just the sixth player in school history to reach 1,000 career points.

• Carly Scheblo surpassed 500 points against the Lakers thanks to an 11-point game, her second highest scoring game of the season.

• Aniyjha Graves' 20 points against the Lakers were a career-high. The freshman from Indianapolis, Indiana also set a new career-high with five made three-point baskets.

• Da'Naria Washington's 11 point, 11 rebounds performance on Saturday marked her first career double-double. Washington's 11 boards were also a career-high.

• Taylor Hibicke recorded her first double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and fourth of her career.

• Scheblo and Hibickie both picked up their 150th career assist on Saturday afternoon. The two juniors are now tied for the most career assists among active Trinity players.

• With three points on Saturday, Louisa Schmidt recorded her 100th career point.

UP NEXT

The Trojans (3-3) return to action on Tuesday night as they visit the Cardinal Stritch University Wolves in CCAC play for their final game before the Thanksgiving holiday. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30pm CT from the CSU Fieldhouse in Milwaukee, with the game being streamed LIVE on the Wolves Sports Network.
 

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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.