Crusaders Fall to Trinity University on Friday

IRVING, Texas - The University of Dallas women's basketball team lost to Trinity University, 89-51, on Friday. The Crusaders (1-11, 1-4 SCAC) made six of their first seven shots to keep up with the Tigers in the first quarter. UD was only down three (21-18) after one frame, but Dallas lost momentum when they were held to just two points in the second period. Trinity (9-3, 3-0 SCAC) went for 29 points in the third to put things out of reach.

Abby Holland got the Tigers started with two jumpers to put TU up 8-3 in the opening quarter. Faith Starnes (Bryan, Texas) hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit. Hailey Coleman then added to the Tigers lead with a layup to put TU up 12-8 with six and a half minutes left. Two minutes later Taylor Jobe (Queen Creek, Ariz.) hit a big trey to pull the Crusaders within one. Vanessa Diaz (San Antonio, Texas) then got fouled at the 3:52 mark and made both of her shots from the free-throw line to grab the first lead for UD.

After losing the lead for a short moment, UD got a jumper from Gracie Williams (Midwest City, Okla.) to regain the lead (15-14). Jobe hit another shot to keep Dallas close with the clock winding down (19-18). Kelly Simmons converted her two shots from the charity stripe to put the Tigers up 21-18 after one.

Dallas was outscored 20-2 in the second frame, as Trinity expanded its halftime lead to 41-20. Diaz opened the third period with a lay-in but TU then went on a 12-0 run, with Holland grabbing four points. Coleman notched six points, while Julia Ackerman and Miranda Vega each added five in this quarter alone, as the Tiger notched 29 points in the third frame to grab a 70-35 lead. In the fourth quarter, both teams traded buckets early. Trinity found a 10-0 run capped off by an Anna Gilliatt layup midway through the final frame. The Crusaders were unable to find any big runs late in the period.

Five different Tigers scored double digit points. Coleman led the quintet with 16. Holland grabbed 14, while Kelly Simmons notched 11. Jackie Layng and Annie Wise both added 10. Simmons secured the double-double with 10 rebounds. TU won the rebound battle 41-34, as they grabbed 12 on the offensive glass. The Tigers swarming defense forced 44 Dallas turnovers, which led to 18 fastbreak points. TU had 50 of its points in the paint going 35-83 (42.2 percent) from the field.  

Dallas shot 15-38 (39.5 percent) from the field including 17-22 (77.3 percent) from the free-throw line. Diaz led UD with 15 points and seven rebounds. Starnes posted 11 points, while Williams added eight points and five boards.

UP NEXT

Dallas will make a trip to Dallas Christian College on Tuesday (1/8). First tip is set for 4:00 p.m.