SAN ANTONIO – The Trinity University women's basketball team rode a dominating second-quarter performance into a 61-54 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference victory over the University of the Ozarks (AR) on Friday evening.

The Tigers improved to 11-7 overall and 7-3 in the SCAC Gold Division, while the Eagles fell to 11-7 and 5-4 in the SCAC Blue Division. This was the first meeting between the two teams and is the only SCAC regular season matchup this year. Trinity outscored Ozarks 22-3 in the second quarter to turn the game around for good. Ozarks made a late bid for a comeback but never led in the second half. The Tiger defense took advantage of the turnover battle, scoring 20 points off 13 turnovers by Ozarks. Trinity also had a 14-2 edge in fast break scoring in the game.

Kylie Minter (League City, Texas / Clear Springs) led the Tigers with 16 points, connecting on 6-of-7 from the field and knocking down all three of her three-point attempts. Josie Napoli (Beaverton, Ore. / Valley Catholic) added 15 points to go with a team-best five assists and also scored three three-pointers. Bailey Timmons (Argyle, Texas / Argyle) was the only other Trinity player in double figures, chipping in with 10 points and a team-high three steals. Natalie Greenwood (Roanoke, Texas / Byron Nelson) edged out teammate Elaine King (Cedar Park, Texas / Cedar Park) to lead the team in rebounds, collecting eight to King's seven. Ivory Scott (Waco, Texas / Waco) and Livy Sauvageau (Houston, Texas / Second Baptist) both finished with seven points and two steals, while Scott also pulled down six boards.

The Rundown
Trinity got on the board first as Minter scored an and-one bucket on the second possession, but Ozarks scored 11 of the next 13 points and led by six points just ahead of the four-minute mark. The lead was as high as seven points shortly after, but the Tigers got back-to-back scores with under two minutes left in the quarter to get within three at 15-12. Ozarks answered with a three-pointer in the final minute, but Sauvageau scored at the buzzer to make it an 18-14 game heading into the second.

It took nearly two minutes for either team to score to open the second quarter and it wound up being the only basket of the period for Ozarks. Sauvageau buried a three shortly after to start what wound up being a 22-1 run over the final eight-plus minutes of the half for the Tigers. Minter put Trinity in front with a three-pointer with just over six minutes left, then Ozarks hit 1-of-2 at the line to tie the game at 21-21 on the next possession. Minter hit another long-range shot to put the Tigers back in the lead – this time for good. That shot also started a run of 15 straight points for the Tigers to finish off the second quarter, putting Trinity up 36-21 at the break.

Minter and Napoli both scored early baskets in the third to extend Trinity's run to 19 consecutive points before Ozarks finally broke it up with a basket, ending a scoring drought that lasted nearly nine minutes in total during the second and third quarters. The Tigers got the lead up to 20 points after a Napoli three on the next possession, but Ozarks started a 10-2 run with three straight buckets to cut it to a 45-33 game with under two minutes remaining. The margin was still 12 in the final minute, but the Tigers got a bucket and a pair of free throws to close the period and take a 53-37 lead into the final period.

The fourth quarter opened with Ozarks scoring nine unanswered points over the first four-plus minutes to cut the lead to just seven at 53-46. That would be as close as the Eagles would get, though, as Timmons scored a layup just ahead of the five-minute mark to break up the scoring streak. Ozarks scored with just over three minutes left in the game to bring the lead back to seven again, but that would be the final bucket of the game for the visitors. Napoli converted a pair of free throws just over a minute later, then Scott buried a game-sealing three-pointer near the one-minute mark to put Trinity up by 12 points at the time.

Coach Speak
"Teen Wolf was iconic," began Head Coach Cameron Hill. "Obviously because of Styles and his magnetic personality, but also for the undercurrent of really solid fundamental messaging. Dating the pretty girl is cool, but the day one girl is always better. SHOUT OUT BOOF!!! Being the Wolf is incredible, but being a great teammate and winning as a team is the absolute best. The TOGETHERS agree. Great to be home! ONWARD!"

Up Next
Trinity will host Centenary College (LA) tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. to close out the SCAC weekend at home.