SAN ANTONIO – No. 5 Trinity University Women's Basketball overwhelmed No. 18/25 Hardin-Simmons University, 81-68, Saturday afternoon for its second victory of the week over the in-region rival from the American Southwest Conference.

The Tigers (6-0) continued their undefeated start to the 2022-23 campaign through the all-around work of junior Maggie Robbins (Plano, Texas / Plano) who led the way with 18 points—a career-high—and seven assists, and matched team-highs of six rebounds and five steals.

Trinity dominated on the boards with 21 offensive rebounds to the total of 44. Senior Claire Hale (San Antonio, Texas / Brandeis) and first-year Natalie Anderson (San Jose, Calif. / Archbishop Mitty) each tied Robbins with six rebounds apiece, combining for seven collected shots on the offensive end.

Sophomore Josie Napoli (Beaverton, Ore. / Valley Catholic) went stride for stride with her backcourt mate's effort on the offensive end with 17 points as the Tigers went +24 in her 26 minutes on the floor.

Senior Ashlyn Milton (Amarillo, Texas / Amarillo) added another five steals to the impressive defensive performance as Trinity pushed the Cowgirls into 32 turnovers for the game.

No. 5 Trinity Women's Basketball will host LeTourneau University Sunday at 6:00 p.m. to conclude it's first home weekend and a stretch of five games in 10 days. The Tigers open Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play on the road next weekend.

The Rundown

After a couple baskets were traded in the first two minutes, Trinity caught steam for a 13-1 run that lasted just over four minutes and through the midway media break to a 19-6 lead. Through the first six minutes, Robbins had already accounted for 12 points through a pair of assists and three buckets to go along with three of her five steals for the game. Hardin-Simmons briefly brought the margin back to two possessions with a 7-0 response over the next two minutes prior to the 22-15 first-quarter tally.

The Tiger lead shrank to four points near the midway point of the second but just two minutes later a Robbins steal-turned-bucket had Trinity back up 10, part of a 16-6 run over the final six minutes of the half, 42-28 Trinity. Through the first-half commotion, Napoli paced the first 20 minutes with 11 of her 17 points as she and Robbins had each already reached double-digits.

Trinity opened up to a 16-advantage early in the third at the end of a 14-2 run that began two minutes before intermission and into the first 90 seconds of the second half. Five different Tigers each found the bottom of the net in the third quarter, but Hardin-Simmons closed the gap to 55-45 with 10 minutes to go.

The Cowgirls carried their momentum through the final quarter break to just a five-point deficit, 55-50, in the first minute of the final frame. Trinity slammed the door over the next two-plus minutes with a dagger: a 14-2 run that featured eight of senior Addie Putnam's (Scottsdale, Ariz. / Xavier) 11 points for the contest including a pair of three-pointers assisted by Robbins and Napoli.

Robbins returned on the offensive end in the final minutes, accounting for seven of the last 10 Trinity points en route to its sixth-straight win to open the 2022-23 campaign.

Coach Speak

"I can think of a few instances when the sequel is better than the original," Head Coach Cameron Hill began: "Rocky III and IV, The Dark Knight, and Sing 2, obviously."

"Usually it's because of smart writing and witty character development," Hill continued. "Moving Claire to the front of the press was box office."

"They scored less and we scored more," he emphasized. "Great games with the Cowgirls, they are a worthy opponent and we are grateful for their competition. Onto the next one, tomorrow, at 6 p.m."

Up Next

No. 5 Women's Basketball hosts LeTourneau to round out the Thanksgiving weekend, then heads east to visit Centenary College (Dec. 2) and University of St. Thomas (Dec. 4)