HOUSTON – The No. 4/5 Trinity women's basketball team finished off its first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference weekend with an 82-40 win on the road against the University of St. Thomas on Sunday afternoon.

The Tigers improve to 9-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play this season, while the Celts fall to 1-8 after dropping its second conference game of the year today. Trinity dominated the game over the final three quarters, holding St. Thomas to single-digit scoring in each of the last three periods.

Maggie Robbins (Plano, Texas / Plano), the reigning SCAC Player of the Week and United States Basketball Writers Association NCAA III National Player of the Week, wrapped up the final game of the weekend with an impressive line. She finished with a rather unique double-double by scoring 17 points and recording 10 steals in her 20 minutes of play. Robbins connected on 7-of-9 shooting, while also pulling down seven rebounds and dishing out four assists.

Ashlyn Milton (Amarillo, Texas / Amarillo) led the Tigers with 18 points in 22 minutes, hitting 8-of-14 from the field and a pair of three-pointers. Addie Putnam (Scottsdale, Ariz. / Xavier College Prep) rounded out Trinity's double-figure scorers, adding 11 points and tying Robbins for the team lead with seven rebounds. Putnam also had five steals and a Tiger-best five assists.

Trinity won't play again for two weeks when the Tigers host nationally-ranked University of Mary Hardin-Baylor on Monday, December 19. Trinity will also face off against the University of Puget Sound – ranked in one of two NCAA III polls last week – on Wednesday, December 21.

The Rundown
The opening quarter was fast-paced throughout the opening quarter as both teams were looking to play quickly. The Tigers trailed 7-11 near the midway point of the period, but rallied by scoring 10 of the next 11 points to pull in front. St. Thomas made the last four points of the quarter and Trinity was scoreless over the final 2:40, though the Tigers led 17-16 after one. Trinity picked up eight offensive rebounds and 10 second-chance points, allowing the team to overcome 29.4% shooting in the quarter. Robbins finished with five points and four rebounds in the quarter, while Putnam had three points and three assists.

The Tigers continued to put the defensive pressure on in the second quarter, eventually forcing 12 turnovers (19 total for the half) and allowing just nine total points in the period. That also sparked the offense and Trinity opened the second quarter with 17 unanswered points to blow the game open. That initial run lasted less than five minutes and the Tigers forced eight of the quarter's 12 turnovers during that time frame. Robbins led the charge with seven points and four steals during that stretch. The lead got as high as 20 points with 3:05 left in the half, though St. Thomas hit a three-pointer in the final minute to make it a 41-25 game at the break.

Trinity carried its momentum into the third quarter, starting with five quick points just over a minute into the period to push the lead to 21 points at 46-25. The teams traded scores over the next several possessions, then the Tigers hit the gas pedal once again with eight straight points to make it a 56-30 game with under four left in the third. Milton and Robbins both hit threes during the run and Milton also had a fast break layup on a steal in the back court. By quarter's end, it would be the second straight quarter in which Trinity allowed just nine points and forced 13 more turnovers. The Tigers closed the quarter strong with seven points in the final minute to take a 66-34 lead into the final period.

The final quarter saw Trinity score three layups before St. Thomas got on the board, and the last of the starting unit left the floor less than four minutes into the period. The Tigers scored 14 of the first 16 points of the fourth quarter and held the Celts to just six total points in the final period to finish off the lopsided win.

Numbers to Note
Trinity dominated the paint in today's game, outscoring St. Thomas 42-14 down low. The Tigers also scored more than of their points off of turnovers, netting 41 points on 39 turnovers forced in the game. Of the 39 turnovers, 32 of those were a result of Trinity steals.

Robbins became just the second player in Trinity women's basketball history to record 10 or more steals in more than one game. Former Tiger Jenna Smith did it four times from 2002-03 to 2003-04, while Robbins also notched 10 steals against Centenary College in December 2021. With her 10 steals, Robbins is now in the top 25 in career steals at Trinity with 134.

With her 18 points today, Milton now has 965 in her career at Trinity. That total puts her 20th on the all-time list and she could become the 19th Tiger to reach 1,000 with just 35 more this season. Milton's two three-pointers also moves her past Julia Ackerman for third in school history. Milton needs three more triples to pass Murphy Burns and 14 more would tie Hannah Coley for the school record.

Coach Speak
"Houston, Texas, home to Pam, the lovely woman Bud used to make Sissy jealous," said Head Coach Cameron Hill. "Urban Cowboy is almost as good a film as its soundtrack. All I know is, we rode the bull well and didn't get bucked. I can't say the same for the oncoming final exams! Cheers to Gilley's, The Charlie Daniels Band, and Boz Scaggs! We sure had fun. Ready to get home."

Up Next
Trinity will host No. 11/13 Mary Hardin-Baylor at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, December 19, then takes on No. 25 Puget Sound on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.