DANVILLE, Ky. – The Trinity women's basketball team (12-8, 8-1 SAA) took back the top spot in the SAA standings today with their 64-53 win against Centre College (17-3, 7-2 SAA). With the win, they avenge last week's comeback loss against the Colonels and take their second straight win on the weekend.

Tonight's game was won on the defensive end for Trinity, forcing Centre to shoot just 29% from the field and 15% from three. They also had 11 steals, forcing 15 total Colonel turnovers. The Tigers had a decent shooting night, making 45% of their field goals, but just 23% of their threes. Despite Centre grabbing 9 more rebounds on the night, and 8 more on the offensive glass, they simply couldn't overcome their poor shot-making performance.

Livy Sauvageau (Houston, Texas / Second Baptist) led the Tigers tonight with 19 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals on 62% (8-13) shooting from the field and 60% (3-5) from three. Kylie Minter (League City, Texas / Clear Springs) had 13 points, a season-high 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Skye O'Rourke (Austin, Texas / Vandegrift) recorded 10 points, 7 rebounds and 1 steal on 45% (5-11) shooting.

The Rundown
Neither team was able to create separation in the first quarter, and it was never more than a two-possession game. The biggest lead of the period came when the Tigers scored on three straight possessions, grabbing a 16-11 lead with 1:39 to go. The Colonels went on their own mini-run, however, and a last-minute Trinity free throw kept the lead at two, 17-15, heading into the second.
The second quarter was more of the same. Between these two teams atop the SAA standings, neither was willing to give an inch. When the Tigers scored, the Colonels were right back with a bucket of their own, and vice versa. Although the game had been close, Centre took just their second lead of the game with 5:53 to go, when they went up 20-19. The Tigers responded with a 10-4 run over the next four minutes to take a 29-23 lead with 57 seconds to go, but the Colonels battled back to close the half out down just two, 27-29.

As was becoming the story of the game, the Tigers once again created some separation in the third quarter, but the Colonels were not far behind in closing that gap without hesitation. A 9-3 run gave Trinity their biggest lead of the game thus far with 3:44 to go, going up 44-37 after Allison Even (Tucson, Ariz. / Salpointe Catholic) scored on two straight possessions. Centre, as usual, would not go quietly, continuing to diminish the lead. Going into the final period, it was still anybody's game, as the Tigers led 46-42.

Trinity's run finally stuck in the fourth quarter. Minter and Sauvageau combined for the first 10 points of the quarter, and an O'Rourke bucket capped off a 12-0 run in the first 4:53 of the period, giving the Tigers a 58-42 lead with 5:07 to play. After they created their largest lead of the game, 60-43 with 4:05 to play, Centre responded in a big way with a 9-1 run of their own, making it 61-52 with 1:18 to play, but it was too little too late. The Tigers closed things out and escaped their quick road trip with a 64-53 win.

Coach Speak
"I would never dare compare athletes to soldiers," began Head Coach Cameron Hill. "but there are similarities in people who push themsleves to become great. Reminds me of the opening scene of Lone Survivor. There is a storm inside of us. A burning. A river. A drive. An unrelenting desire to push yourself harder and farther than anyone thought possible. Pushing ourselves into those cold, dark corners. Where the bad things live. Where the bad things fight. We want that fight at the highest volume. I'd rather play Centre 25 times a year than spar with an opponent that can't beat us. This was a great trip for the TOGETHERS. Time to fly! ONWARD."

Looking Ahead
The Tigers will head back home to face Rhodes College (6-13, 2-6 SAA) and Millsaps College (13-6, 4-4 SAA) on Feb. 6 and 8. It will be the final home games of the regular season for Trinity.