ABILENE, Texas – The Trinity women's basketball team remained winless on the season, dropping game number four at Hardin-Simmons University, 55-67. Rebounds and turnovers remained problems for the Tigers, allowing the Cowgirls to take 17 more shots and create a sizeable gap on the scoreboard despite a lower shot percentage.

Lily Sauvageau (Houston, Texas / Second Baptist) led the Tigers in scoring with 18 points on an efficient 61.5% (8-13) clip, along with 5 rebounds. Kylie Minter (League City, Texas / Clear Springs) uncharacteristically struggled shooting the ball, making 18% (2-11) of her shots, but still managed to post 11 points and 4 rebounds. Maddie Mueller (Houston, Texas / Concordia Lutheran) recorded a season-high 9 points on 38% (3-8) shooting from three-point range.

The Rundown
The Cowgirls scored the first six points of the game as the Tigers struggled from the field early. Hardin-Simmons was not any better shooting the ball, but rebounding problems that have hurt the Tigers all season continued to do so as the Cowgirls grabbed 6 offensive rebounds in the first period. Both teams shot less than 35% from the field and less than 30% from three in the first quarter, but the rebounding edge, and Trinity's 7 turnovers to the Cowgirls' 2, created a slight gap on the scoreboard. Hardin-Simmons led 16-10 going into the second quarter.

The Tigers turned things around in the second quarter, shooting 58% (7-12) from the field and 40% (2-5) from three. Rebounding became their strength, grabbing 13 boards to the Cowgirls' 6. Things threatened to get worse before they got better, though, as Hardin-Simmons went up by double-digits six minutes into the period. Just then, the Tigers scored nine unanswered points to bring the game within just three points. The momentum was squarely on the side of Trinity through the end of the half, as Hardin-Simmons entered the break up two, 31-29.

Sauvageau started the second half hot, scoring all of the Tigers' first six points of the quarter. For the rest of the team, the shooting woes returned, as Trinity shot 31% (5-16) from the field. Fortunately for them, the Cowgirls also struggled from the field and especially from three, shooting 17% (1-6) from deep. Both teams kept it close throughout the quarter, and the Cowgirls maintained a 50-45 lead going into the final frame.

It was all Hardin-Simmons in the fourth. After a quick Minter three to bring the game within two, the Tigers went scoreless for three minutes as turnovers and missed shots piled up. The 11-point gap that the Cowgirls created in that time frame was never to be relinquished. Trinity shot just 17% (2-12) in the final frame, and Hardin-Simmons came away with a 67-55 win.

Looking Ahead 
The Tigers are staying in Abilene to match up with McMurry University (2-0) tomorrow, Nov. 22.