Memphis, TENNESSEE – Trinity women's basketball (8-7, 4-0 SAA) won their fourth straight tonight with an 82-61 win on the road at Rhodes College (5-9, 1-3 SAA). The Tigers spread the wealth with five players in double-digit point totals, using strong second and third quarters to pull away from the Lynx. 

The Tigers won tonight's game on staunch defense, forcing 25 turnovers on 20 steals, while giving up only 13 turnovers of their own. Despite shooting slightly worse than the Lynx (41% to Rhodes' 45%), the extra possessions allowed Trinity to put 20 more shots. They also shot markedly better from three, making 39% of their shots from deep to Rhodes' 21%. The Tigers won the battle on the glass as well, grabbing 44 rebounds to Rhodes' 38. That battle was another factor in Trinity's extra possessions, as they grabbed 16 offensive rebounds to Rhodes' 6.

Skye O'Rourke led Trinity in points once again, dropping 14 points, 6 rebounds and a career-high tying 4 steals on 71% (5-7) shooting. Lily Sauvageau had 12 points, 2 assists and 2 steals on 39% (5-13) shooting. Kylie Minter had 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 5 steals on 40% (4-10) shooting. Allison Even had 10 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, shooting 67% (2-3) from deep. Emma Winans tied her career-high with 10 points and set a career-high of 5 rebounds on 50% (5-10) shooting.

The Rundown

The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with neither side able to build up more than a five-point lead. Rhodes shot the ball efficiently in the first, making 56% of their shots, but Natalie Greenwood's three offensive rebounds in the period helped the Tigers begin to build up a lead in the shots taken category. The largest lead of the quarter came when a quick 5-0 Trinity run was capped off by a Winans layup to give Trinity a 17-12 lead with 2:15 to play. Rhodes responded with a 6-0 run of their own, reclaiming an 18-17 lead with 38 seconds to play. Even scored her seventh point of the period to retake the lead, but the quarter ended with the Lynx maintaining a slight lead, 20-19.

The Tigers began to break things open in the second quarter. The period began with Rhodes asserting their slight advantage, leading 28-24 with 7:37 to play. Four quick Sauvageau points brought Trinity back into the game, and the game was tied up once again at 30 apiece with 4:44 to play. Thanks to a slew of Lynx turnovers, that's the closest the game would be again, as the Tigers closed out the period on a 15-2 run, taking a 43-32 lead into halftime.

Things looked like they might not escape from Rhodes' grasp early in the third, as they whittled the lead back down to single-digits as late as 5:59 to play, when the Tigers led 49-40. The second half of the quarter, as was the case in the second period, was what really killed the Lynx, as turnover after turnover resulted in empty possessions and extra chances for Trinity. In the final five minutes, Rhodes scored only one bucket, as the Tigers once again closed out the period on a 13-2 run, taking a 62-42 lead into the final frame.

Trinity held its largest lead of the game with 8:41 to play, when a Winans hook shot gave the Tigers a 66-42 lead. Rhodes, who struggled mightily shooting the ball in the second and third quarters, even when their possessions weren't ended early by Tiger steals, refound their shotmaking in the fourth. Their 67% shot percentage wasn't enough, however, as Trinity still won the quarter by a score of 20-19. With 14 seconds remaining, Elaine King scored her first field goal of the season and the Tigers escaped Memphis with a resounding 82-61 win.

Coach Speak

Memphis is famous for a lot of things: Elvis, Penny Hardaway, Fed Ex, which then also means Tom Hanks in Castaway, which then also means Wilson, which then also means the incredible power of having a teammate," said Head Coach Cameron Hill. "That's what we have now, incredible teammates who help us survive. It's pretty cool to be a part of. Oh yeah, Memphis is also famous for singing the blues, but I guess we can read the Rhodes recap for that. ONWARD!!!"

Looking Ahead

The Tigers will take on Millsaps College (11-4, 2-2 SAA) on Jan. 18 in Jackson, Mississippi. They defeated Rhodes on Jan. 3 in a low-scoring slugfest, winning 55-36.