NOTRE DAME, Ind. --- The TIU women's basketball team took to the road on Wednesday night as they played their final Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) game of the season against the Holy Cross College Saints. Coming off a tough loss to #19 St. Francis on senior day last Saturday, the Trojans looked to close out league play on a high note and improve their standings for the conference tournament.

Things didn't start well for TIU as the Saints jumped out to an early 7-0 lead before the Trojans could get their first shot attempt. However, Trinity quickly responded with Breleigh Gula and Brittany Gafare warming up the offense from inside and from mid-range. In a game where HCC heavily controlled the offensive rebounding battle, the Trojans slowed the Saints offense down, holding their opponent to 20% shooting from beyond the arc and forcing several wild shot attempts. Holy Cross would take a narrow 25-24 lead into the halftime break.

Trinity flipped the switch in the second half, taking the lead on an Alina Jahnke layup and never looked back. The Saints would be held to just eight field goals for the entire second half as TIU capitalized off of HCC's 19 total turnovers and Saint fouls. The Trojan's depth also proved to be helpful in the rebounding battle, which helped well on defense as TIU 26-point second half propelled them to a 60-49 win over Holy Cross.

Gafare led the Trojans for the second straight game in scoring with 15 points and eight rebounds in the win, while Gula notched a career night with 12 points and six boards. Carly Scheblo scored nine points, while Taylor Hibicke and Alina Jahnke each scored eight.

ADDITIONAL GAME NOTES

• With tonight's win, the Trojans picked up their eighth win all-time against Holy Cross. The Saints still lead the all-time series 11-8. TIU has now won three consecutive meetings against HCC.

• Holy Cross outrebounded the Trojans 18-10 on offensive boards.

• Trinity's bench outscored the Saints 19-9 in the win.

• TIU held the Saints to 25.4% overall shooting, the lowest any team has shot against the Trojans from the floor this season

• Breleigh Gula set new career highs in Wednesday's win, including points (12), made field goals (6), and attempted field goals (12).

• Brittany Gafare's seven made free throws, eight free throw attempts, and four offensive rebounds are career-highs.

• Alina Jahnke recorded two blocks off the bench, giving her 76 for the season. Jahnke is four blocks from tying Jenni Hettinger for the program's single-season record of 80, set during the 1985-96 season.

UP NEXT

The Trojans (9-10) finish CCAC play with a 5-7 record and will await the final seeding for the CCAC Tournament. Due to scheduling complications created by COVID-19, this year's tournament will be seeded using a point-based system rather than traditional standings. TIU will wrap up the regular season on Saturday afternoon as they visit the Maranatha Baptist Sabercats in non-conference play in Watertown, Wisconsin. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00pm CT from the MBU Gymnasium and can be watched LIVE on Sabercats Live Stream.

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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.