HARTFORD, Conn. – The 17
th-ranked Trinity College Women's Basketball team rallied past visiting Clark University, 58-55, in a non-conference clash at Ray Oosting Gymnasium Saturday afternoon. The Bantams rise to 10-2 on the season, while Clark dips to 8-4 overall.
What Happened:
- Play was tight in the first quarter with Clark holding the lead throughout the period, but the Bantams knotted the score five times during the frame.
- The Bantams took their first lead, 16-14, on a jumper from Marlo Simms on the opening possession of the second quarter, but Clark responded with a 9-0 run to regain a 23-16 advantage with 6:13 on the clock.
- Trinity pulled even with a 7-0 run behind four points from Samantha Slofkiss and three-pointer from Fiona Neilon, and then closed the with a 30-29 lead.
- Both defenses came out strong in the second half as the teams found themselves knotted at 36-36 midway through the third quarter. The Bantams used an 8-2 run, featuring buckets from Slofkiss, Whitmore and Simms to harness a 44-38 lead entering the fourth.
- The Cougars mounted a rally to open the fourth, executing a 10-0 run to take a 48-44 lead with five minutes remaining.
- Avery Marzo caught fire over the next two minutes, netting eight points as Trinity erased the deficit and grabbed a 54-50 advantage with 2:24 on the clock.
- Clark would pull within a possession twice down the stretch, but the Bantams held them off at the free throw line to seal the 58-55 win.
Inside the Numbers:
- The Bantams shot 36.7% (22-of-60) from the floor, including 25% (5-of-20) from beyond the arc, and 81.8% (9-of-11) from the free throw line.
- The Cougars connected on 32.4% (23-of-71) from the field, 19% (4-of-21) from three-point, and 55.6% (5-of-9) from the foul line.
- Rebounds: Trinity 49, Clark 34
- Turnovers: Trinity 27, Clark 14
- Bench Points: Trinity 17, Clark 5
- Points in the Paint: Clark 38, Trinity 34
- Points off Turnovers: Clark 18, Trinity 10
- Marzo logged a game-high 22 points, shooting 4-of-8 from three-point, with six rebounds and two steals in 38 minutes of action.
- Simms posted her ninth double-double of the season, pulling down a game-high 15 rebounds, including eight offensive boards, with 12 points.
- Slofkiss tallied eight points and nine rebounds off the bench, while Melissa Whitmore dished out a game-high five assists with six points, five rebounds and two steals.
- Watson led the Cougars with a team-high 18 points with four rebounds and three assists, while Derfs delivered 16 points and eight rebounds.
Up Next:
- The Bantams will return to the floor when they welcome MIT to Oosting Gymnasium on Tuesday, January 6 at 6:00 p.m.
- All-time, Trinity owns a 5-2 record against the Engineers, dating back to their inaugural matchup during the 1976-77 season.
- Last season, the Bantams defeated MIT, 70-64, to halt a two-game losing streak versus the Engineers.