CHICAGO, IL—The Trojans took a huge step in the right direction on Saturday afternoon, riding a stellar effort from their standout sophomore guard Da'Naria Washington all the way to a 78-68 road win over the Lakers of Roosevelt University.

The Trojans came out swinging in the opening quarter, dropping 26 points on a blistering 69 percent shooting. The dynamic duo of Washington and Amber Reynolds stuffed the stat sheet throughout the period, with each tallying seven points while Washington added four boards, two dimes, and a near-incomprehensible five blocks. While the Trojans were scoring at will on one side of the court, Trinity's defense swarmed the Lakers at the other end, limiting the home side to sub-40 percent shooting and not allowing a single basket from deep. All told, the initial period couldn't have gone much better for the Trojans, who held a 26-18 lead at quarter's end.

The second quarter saw the Trojan offense grind to a halt, but their continued persistence defensively helped them retain a slim lead heading into halftime. The efforts of star center Saskia Stegbauer, who nailed three of her four attempts in the period including one that she muscled through a foul, helped the Trojans stay afloat as they forced a half-dozen turnovers to carry a 38-33 advantage into the break.

Trinity's offense reignited after the midway point, as the three-headed monster of Washington, Reynolds, and veteran forward Breleigh Gula got the Trojans back on track in short order. Reynolds and Gula each managed five points in the frame, while Washington was in her bag, setting up her teammates to the tune of five assists while also tossing in three points and three rebounds of her own. All told, the Trojans were able to slightly stretch their advantage in the period, leading by a 60-53 margin heading into the fourth.

As the fourth quarter rolled in, the Trinity offense was again overcome by a relative dry spell. Washington and Gula still managed to pour in five points apiece, but it was the Trinity defense that slammed the door on hopes of a Laker comeback. The Trojans held the hometown club to just 30 percent from the floor and 17 percent from three while definitively outmuscling and outhustling Roosevelt, with Trinity winning the rebounding war 16-9. After seeing their lead shrink to just four points late, the Trojans hit a final burst that sent them to the 78-68 win.

The Trojans were victorious for the first time in CCAC play under first-year head coach Courtney Peay, and Peay had to like what she saw from her squad, as five Trojans scored in double figures in the win. Trinity imposed their will inside, with their forward/center trio of Stegbauer, Gula, and Jakyah Amous totaling 34 points and 15 rebounds, and the outside effort complimented the prowess near the rim, as Reynolds finished with 12 points. But the day truly belonged to Da'Naria Washington, as the budding star point guard provided a mind-boggling all-around effort, stuffing the stat sheet with a 15-point, 13-board, 11-dime triple double, complimenting the masterpiece with five blocks and six steals.

The Trojans (2-4) will look to carry their momentum into their next fixture, a battle with Cardinal Stritch University on Monday, November 21, back at Van Dixhorn Arena.


   

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TIU Trojans     TIU Women's Basketball

 

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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.