ABILENE, Texas – The Trinity women's basketball team fell to McMurry University (3-0) today by a score of 69-93, moving to 0-5 on the season. Shooting and rebounding woes that have plagued the Tigers all season continued as they struggled to contain the War Hawks' scoring machine.
Kylie Minter (League City, Texas / Clear Springs) had her second 20-point night of the year on 41% (7-17) shooting, along with 3 rebounds and 4 assists.
Ivory Scott (Waco, Texas / Waco) had a career-high 13 points on 45% (5-11) shooting, along with 4 rebounds.
Skye O'Rourke (Austin, Texas / Vandegrift) posted a season-high 13 points in just 17 minutes off the bench, shooting 38% (5-13) and grabbing 5 rebounds.
Emma Winans (Austin, Texas / Vandegrift) posted a career-high 10 points on 50% shooting (3-6), along with 4 rebounds.
The Tigers shot just 33% (25-77) and just 23% (7-31) from three-point range. McMurry, on the other hand, had a good day shooting the ball, making 49% (37-76) of their shots and 46% (12-26) of their three-pointers. Trinity grabbed 30 rebounds while giving up 55 rebounds to the War Hawks, including 22 offensive boards. Despite giving up just 9 turnovers and forcing 19, the Tigers could not overcome the day's shooting struggles.
The Rundown
Things were back and forth throughout the first quarter. Despite shooting 33% (7-21) from the field, the Tigers forced five turnovers in the period to keep the game close. After seven early lead changes, O'Rourke's second bucket of the game gave Trinity what would be their last lead of the game with 2:21 left in the quarter. Just then, momentum began to build for McMurry as the Tigers missed their final four shots of the quarter. The War Hawks left the first quarter with a 21-16 lead.
Early efficiency from Trinity in the second quarter kept them in the game. Midway through the period, things began to take a turn for the worse for the away side. In the last six minutes of the quarter, McMurry scored 20 points while the Tigers scored just seven. Trinity shot 27% (4-15) in the period while McMurry made 52% (11-21) of their shots, allowing a sizeable gap to open that would prove permanent.
The Tigers had their best shooting quarter of the game in the third, making 41% (9-22) of their shots. Turnover troubles continued for McMurry, but the lead on the scoreboard could not be overcome. Scott had eight points and Minter had seven points in the period as the Tigers finally outscored the War Hawks 24-21. Entering the final frame, McMurry held a firm 70-55 lead.
Trinity had its worst shooting quarter of the day in the final frame, making 26% (5-19) of their shots and 0% (0-4) of their three-pointers. O'Rourke had six points in the quarter in an attempt to make up for her team's scoring struggles, but it was not to be. McMurry continued to score the ball at will to come out with the win, 93-69.
Looking Ahead
The Tigers return home to search for their first win against Concordia University (0-3) on Dec. 3.
