IRVING, Texas – Trinity University Women's Basketball fell in the 2025 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship to Texas Lutheran University, 73-63, at the Maher Athletic Center Sunday afternoon, ending their strong postseason run just short of the title.

The Tigers (16-12) battled throughout the contest but struggled offensively in the third quarter, allowing the Bulldogs (23-4) to gain control. Despite a late surge in the fourth quarter, Trinity was unable to close the gap.

Junior Kylie Minter (League City, Texas / Clear Springs) led the Tigers with 17 points, hitting two three-pointers and going 5-for-6 from the free-throw line while also collecting seven rebounds. Senior Josie Napoli (Beaverton, Ore. / Valley Catholic) contributed 10 points, seven rebounds, and a game-high six assists. Freshman Livy Sauvageau (Houston, Texas / Second Baptist) added eight points on an efficient 3-for-5 shooting. Off the bench, Jailyn Martin (Ashburn, Va. / Virginia Academy) provided six points and three assists, while freshman Sienna Hernandez (El Paso, Texas / Eastwood) knocked down two shots late in the game to finish with five points.

Minter and Napoli were named to the SCAC Championship All-Tournament Team for their performances over the weekend.

Trinity finished the game shooting 36.9 percent from the field and 29.2 percent from three-point range, compared to Texas Lutheran's 40.3 percent and 35.3 percent, respectively. The Bulldogs dominated the glass with a 54-34 rebounding advantage, while both teams struggled with turnovers, as Trinity committed 11 and Texas Lutheran had 16.

The Rundown 
Texas Lutheran jumped out to an early 7-1 lead in the first few minutes, with Trinity struggling to get things going on the offensive end. Minter knocked down two free-throws and a clutch three in the middle of the first quarter, giving the Tigers their first lead of the game. A surge by the Bulldogs allowed them to get ahead, before a Skye O'Rourke (Austin, Texas / Vandegrift) layup before the buzzer reduced the deficit to 4. 

TLU stretched their lead to eight early, before Sauvageau continued her impressive tournament performance with five consecutive points to keep her team within reach. The teams traded free-throws late on but a couple of layups for the bulldogs gave them the 39-30 advantage at the half.

The Tigers struggled in the third quarter, managing just seven points while the Bulldogs built a 17-point lead heading into the final period. Cold shooting and turnovers plagued Trinity, as they went just 3-for-20 from the field, including 0-for-7 from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Texas Lutheran took advantage by controlling the boards and converting second-chance opportunities, extending their lead with a balanced scoring attack. The Bulldogs also found success at the free-throw line, adding to their momentum as they outscored the Tigers 15-7 in the period. Trinity's offensive struggles in the quarter put them in a difficult position heading into the final stretch.

Trinity refused to back down, trying to chip away at the lead until the final whistle. The Tigers outscored Texas Lutheran 26-19 in the final period, behind strong shooting from beyond the arc and fast-break opportunities. Minter, Napoli, and Hernandez each knocked down late shots to trim the deficit, but the lead established in the third quarter proved to be too much for Trinity, with the final score sitting at 73-63 in favor of TLU. 

Coach Speak
"That's a wrap on the SCAC." said head coach Cameron Hill. "Sad day for me though. Maybe not as sad as the day Harry and Lloyd realized that they had no food, no jobs, and that their pets heads were falling off, but sad nonetheless. While Jackson, Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee aren't quite Aspen, Colorado, it's on to the next adventure for the TOGETHERS. I know Dwayne will miss us though, we've been riding our two seater scooter to Championship Sunday for 13 consecutive years! It's been an amazing run. Very grateful. ONWARD"

Up Next 
The Tigers will await their fate in tomorrow's NCAA Tournament selection show.