Posted: Mar 14, 2021
SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- In a rematch of last year’s title game, Trinity defeated Austin College, 70-60, in Sunday afternoon’s semifinal of the 2021 SCAC Women’s Basketball Tournament at Calgaard Gymnasium. Official Tournament Website
Led by 15 points from both Jordan Rudd and Maggie Shipley, Trinity advances to its record ninth-consecutive SCAC women’s tournament final and 14th overall. The Tigers are 6-7 in their previous 13 championship game appearances.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Austin College scored the opening basket of the game, but Trinity responded with a 6-0 run to grab the lead and never trailed again as the Tigers would close the opening 10 minutes with an 8-2 run, securing a 21-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.
- The ‘Roos outscored Trinity, 16-11, in the second quarter to pull within two, 32-30, going into halftime.
- The halftime deficit of two was the closest that Austin College would get over the final 20-minutes, as Trinity opened the second half with an 8-2 run and eventually took a nine-point lead into the fourth quarter.
- Ashlyn Milton hit her third of three second half three-point field goals with 9:37 left in the contest to extend Trinity’s lead to 12, the largest lead of the night for the Tigers. Austin College would push back one final time, cutting the lead to five with 7:30 left following a 7-0 run but never got any closer as Trinity eventually secured the 10-point victory.
- Trinity shot 45.0 percent (27-60) on the night, while Austin College connected on 42.1 percent (24-57).
- Trinity's depth played a huge role in the outcome as the Tigers outscored Austin College, 28-13, off the bench.
- The Tigers held a slight edge in rebounding over the ‘Roos, 38-37, and outscored Austin College, 34-18 in points in the paint.
- Trinity also maintained advantages in points off turnovers (15-13), fast break points (8-0) and second chance points (15-6).
TRINITY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Jordan Rudd: 15 points, five rebounds, three assists, one steal
- Maggie Shipley: 15 points, four rebounds, one assist, one steal
- Ashlyn Milton: 13 points, three rebounds, one assist
AUSTIN COLLEGE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Sarah Gwin: 19 points, five rebounds, one steal, one block
- Ally Longaker: 17 points, eight rebounds, two steals
- Reagan Chiaverini: six points, eight rebounds, five assists
NOTABLES
- Trinity is seeking its seventh SCAC women's basketball tournament title. The Tiger program is currently tied with DePauw for the most women's tournament titles with six.
- Sunday marked the eighth time in SCAC Tournament history that there was a rematch from the previous year’s championship game. The losers of that previous title game are now 6-2 the following year in the tournament rematch.
- Sunday’s contest was the third meeting between the Tigers and the ‘Roos in the SCAC Tournament with Trinity improving to 2-1 in the three contests.
- Trinity, last year’s runners-up, will be the ninth team in SCAC Tournament history to return to the title game following a loss in the championship game the season before. In the previous eight trips, those teams have posted a 5-3 record in the title game.
- With the win, Trinity earns the right to host the SCAC Tournament title game. This will be the third time in tournament history a team has played at home for the SCAC Championship. The two previous times this has happened the home team is 1-1, with Trinity losing to TLU at home in the 2014 final.
- Austin College ends its season with a record of 6-5.
UP NEXT
Trinity (9-2) advances to take on Colorado College (7-2) in next weekend's women's tournament final. Colorado College swept Trinity in San Antonio back on January 22nd and 23rd, handing the Texas Tigers their only losses of the regular season. Next weekend’s women’s championship game date and time will be announced by Monday.
Trinity (9-2) advances to take on Colorado College (7-2) in next weekend's women's tournament final. Colorado College swept Trinity in San Antonio back on January 22nd and 23rd, handing the Texas Tigers their only losses of the regular season. Next weekend’s women’s championship game date and time will be announced by Monday.
