SHREVEPORT – The Trinity University women's basketball team secured its fourth consecutive Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship with a 63-57 win in the Conference Tournament Final over Colorado College on Sunday afternoon.

The Trinity Tigers improved to 22-5 overall this season and have beaten Colorado College twice in three meetings this year. This is also the fourth straight SCAC Championship game between the two schools, with Trinity winning each of the matchups. This marks the first time in program history that Trinity has won four straight conference titles. Trinity is also just the second school to win the SCAC Championship four times in a row, though Trinity is the first to win four outright titles with four straight wins in the SCAC Tournament Championship game.

Three Trinity players were named to the All-Tournament Team after the game, including senior Maggie Robbins (Plano, Texas / Plano) and junior Josie Napoli (Beaverton, Ore. / Valley Catholic). First-year Jamie Ruede (Pipe Creek, Texas / Boerne) was named the SCAC Tournament Most Valuable Player. Ruede came off the bench to lead Trinity with 18 points in today's game, connecting on 4-of-9 from three-point range. Napoli knocked in 7-of-11 at the foul line on her way to an 11-point afternoon, while Robbins finished with nine points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

Elaine King (Cedar Park, Texas / Cedar Park) hit two big fourth-quarter shots to help Trinity hold off a late rally by Colorado College, finishing with eight points and five boards. Bailey Timmons (Argyle, Texas / Argyle) led the team with six rebounds to go with her seven points, while Kylie Minter (League City, Texas / Clear Springs) chipped in with seven points and tied Robbins for the team lead with three assists.

The Rundown

Though Colorado College got on the board first with a pair of free throws, Trinity was in control for most of the first quarter of play. The TU Tigers led just 7-4 at the midway point, but eight unanswered points over the next two minutes made it an 11-point margin with less than three minutes remaining. The lead grew to 12 after Natalie Greenwood (Dallas, Texas / Byron Nelson) buried a three-pointer near the one-minute mark, but Colorado College hit the final shot to make it an 18-8 lead for Trinity after one period.

Colorado College hit a three-pointer on its first possession of the second quarter to trim the margin to single digits, and the teams both scored 14 points in the period after that. Trinity was never able to get the lead back to double figures and Colorado College drew within four at 27-23 with a three-pointer coming with just a little over a minute to go before the break. Ruede answered that play with a layup on Trinity's next possession, then got a steal and hit a three-pointer with 23 seconds left to put Trinity back up by nine. Colorado College once again hit the final shot and Trinity's lead was 32-25 at halftime.

The third quarter began with a bucket by Napoli, but Colorado College scored nine of the next 11 points to pull within two points at 36-34 with four-plus minutes left. Both defenses buckled down over the final four minutes of the quarter, but Ruede was once again clutch for her team with a pair of three-point baskets that helped Trinity lead 42-38 heading into the final stanza.

Ruede continued her hot streak after the short break, scoring Trinity's only five points in the early part of the fourth quarter. Colorado College answered her second bucket of the period with a 6-0 spurt that tied the game 47-47 with 5:51 to play. Trinity never fell behind, though, as King hit the first of her key baskets down the stretch. This one was a rare three-pointer that sparked an 8-0 run for Trinity, making it a 55-47 lead with just over three minutes left on the clock. After Colorado College broke up Trinity's streak with a basket of its own, King nailed another shot with under two minutes left to bring the margin back to eight points. Trinity then hit 6-for-8 at the line over the final 1:18 of the game to seal the win, though Colorado College hit a pair of desperation three-pointers – including one at the buzzer – to cut the final score in half.

Coach Speak

"Breaking records in Louisiana always makes me think of Pistol Pete," began Head Coach Cameron Hill. The Pistol used to crush his opponents like he was listening to Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer during the game! I'm also pretty sure I heard Pete Rose say that he wouldn't have bet against The TOGETHERS. And if you do, it must be because you're in Never Never Land with Peter Pan. I'm just proud of this team. And grateful to my four Pete's for inspiring a great Coach Speak. ONWARD!"

Up Next

Trinity is awarded the automatic bid to the NCAA Playoffs after winning the SCAC Championship and will be back in action next weekend. The Tigers will learn about the details during tomorrow's NCAA Selection Show, which is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. on ncaa.com.