BELTON, Texas – The Trinity women's basketball team (3-6) got back on track in a big way today, capitalizing on a huge second quarter to handily take care of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) (4-9), winning 89-62 to cap off the UMHB Christmas Classic. 

The Tigers won today on their dominant defense, forcing 27 turnovers while giving up just 11. They turned Crusader turnovers into 37 points on the other end, while UMHB scored off turnovers just once. The difference in the turnover battle allowed the Tigers to put up 17 more shots than the Crusaders and close the gap created on the glass, which saw UMHB grab 42 rebounds to the Tigers' 30. Trinity didn't just take more shots; they made more, too, shooting 49% from the field compared to UMHB's 42%. Today is the first time all year the Tigers have won despite losing the rebounding battle, a result that lies in their lockdown defense and shooting efficiency. In all nine games this season, they've never won shooting less than 45% from the field.

Kylie Minter (League City, Texas / Clear Springs) had her fourth 20+ point performance of the season, recording 21 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal on 67% (8-12) shooting from the field and 63% (5-8) shooting from three. Allison Even (Tucson, Ariz. / Salpointe Catholic) had a career-high 12 points to go along with 2 assists and 2 steals on 50% (4-8) shooting overall and 100% (2-2) shooting from deep. Skye O'Rourke (Austin, Texas / Vandegrift) had 12 points, a team-leading 8 rebounds (6 of them on the offensive glass), 2 assists and 1 steal on 75% (6-8) shooting. Dana Gingrey (Plano, Texas / Hebron) had 10 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal on 44% (4-9) shooting. Kai Stratton (Bulverde, Texas / Pieper) had a career-high 9 points in just 11 minutes, taking all 9 of her shots from deep and making 3 of them.

The Rundown
The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair, as the Tigers asserted their strength early but couldn't keep a nagging UMHB away. Trinity took its first lead of the game, one which they would never relinquish, off a Minter three-pointer to make the score 9-7 with 3:47 left to play in the quarter. That bucket was the beginning of a quick 7-0 run, capped off by an O'Rourke layup off a steal from Even to take a six-point lead, 13-7, with 2:40 to go. That's about where the lead would stay, as the quarter would end with the Tigers leading 17-13. Despite shooting 60% in the quarter, UMHB's early turnover trouble, giving the ball up 8 times, kept them out of the game.

The Tigers took their first double-digit lead of the game, going up 26-16 with 7:06 to play, as Gingrey hit a layup in transition off a Stratton steal. UMHB was not to be put away, as they kept the lead within striking distance until 4:21 left to play, when they still trailed by single digits, 23-31. Over the next 3:18, however, they would not score a bucket. Lights-out Trinity shooting from deep highlighted the final minutes of the half, as threes from Even bookended an 18-0 run that saw the Tigers go up 49-23 with 1:03 left to play. UMHB was finally able to take the lid off the rim, but the game had been put well out of their reach, and Trinity took a 49-29 lead heading into the break.

The Tigers had their worst shooting quarter of the game in the third (24%), allowing the Crusaders to slowly battle back into things, but the turnovers would not relent. With 3:46 left to play, a quick 8-0 run from UMHB made the score 57-43. In response, the Trinity offense that had struggled mightily to find the bottom of the net in the first half of the period roared back to life, going on an 8-0 run of their own. A three from Stratton capped off the run to put the lead back over 20 with 1:30 to go, 65-43. Despite some fightback from the Crusaders, the quarter ended with the lead right back where it started as Trinity took a 65-45 lead into the final period. 

The Tigers found their shooting stroke once again in the fourth to put UMHB away with authority, shooting 65% in the final frame. Neither team could get much going in the first half of the quarter, but once Trinity got going again, they didn't look back. With 6:52 left to play and the score at 67-50, an O'Rourke jumper gave them the spark they needed, going on a 10-0 run to put things away for the final time. With 4:45 left to play, O'Rourke capped off the run with a fastbreak layup that, poetically, came off another Trinity steal, this time from Ivory Scott (Waco, Texas / Waco). The Tigers' resulting 27-point lead would stay the margin of victory as, with the seconds counting down, Sophia Almeida (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. / Rancho Cucamonga) drained her first collegiate bucket, a three-pointer to make the score 89-62 as the final buzzer sounded. With the win, Trinity split the weekend's games, escaping the tournament with a 1-1 record.

Coach Speak
"'Tis the season," began Head Coach Cameron Hill. "This trip reminded me a lot of A Christmas Story. We drove to Belton with supreme confidence: like Flick right before he stuck his tongue to the flag pole, or Ralphie right before he handed in his theme, or even The Old Man when he first saw the leg lamp from the street. But just like in the movie, we got a swift dose of perspective: like the lesson Scott Farkus learned when Ralphie took off his mittens. Today's performance felt like finding that last hidden gift tucked away in the corner, then tearing it open and realizing that we are who we thought we were! Maybe the Bumpus dogs got our turkey, but we will be singing "Fa Ra Ra Ra Ra" all the way home. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. ONWARD!"

Looking Ahead
The Tigers will be back in action on Dec. 29, when they head to Marshall for the ETBU Christmas Classic. They will take on two all too familiar teams, matching up against UMHB on day one of the tournament and facing #14 East Texas Baptist University (11-2) on day two.