MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - In a game characterized by numerous scoring streaks, visiting Trinity had two of the last three, including a final 12-3 run to end the game en route to a 60-48 win over Wesleyan in the opening NESCAC game for each squad. Trinity improves to 10-3, while Wesleyan drops to 6-7 on the year.
There were nine distinctive scoring runs during the game. An 11-2 margin by Trinity from the 10:13 mark of the second half to the 6:02 mark broke a 37-37 deadlock and gave the Bantams the lead for good with their 48-39 edge. Junior Michelle Royals had five points and senior Rebecca Cohn had four as Trinity took control. Royals finished with 13 points and Cohn with 10 as two of four Bantams in double figures. Sophomore Carly Napier paced Trinity with 16 points while junior Kaitlin Ciarleglio added 10 for the winners.
Though Wesleyan scored the next six points to get as close as three, 48-45, with 4:16 to go, the Bantams then went on the decisive run and wrapped up the victory down the stretch. A basket by Ciarleglio made it 50-45 before Napier followed with a three-pointer for 53-45 bulge with 2:12 left. Trinity's final seven points came from the line.
The first half was characterized by four unique streaks, the heartiest of which was a 14-0 run by the Bantams over a four-minute span to erase a 14-7 deficit and put Trinity ahead 21-14 with 2:41 left. Freshman Shantel Hanniford netted three inside baskets to key the run. Wesleyan ended the period with a 6-2 stretch to narrow the halftime margin to 23-20. Trinity had led 6-2 after 4:30 of play, only to go scoreless for nearly eight minutes while Wesleyan collected nine points for an 11-6 lead. Juniors Eileen Gaffney and Sam LaCroce each canned a pair of buckets during the 9-0 Cardinal streak. Gaffney led Wesleyan with 14 points and 14 rebounds for a double-double. LaCroce finished with 12 points. Trinity had a sizeable 32-13 advantage in rebounding during the opening 20 minutes but Wesleyan countered it with a 12-3 edge in turnovers. The game ended with Trinity ahead on the boards, 50-34. Turnovers favored Wesleyan, 24-16. Cohn led Trinity on the glass with nine caroms. Ciarleglio and Hanniford each had eight.
