Box Score
The Lady Bruins basketball team picked up a huge region win after defeating the Trinity College Tigers 79-76 in a wild matchup. With the win, the Bruins improve to 6-10 on the season and 1-0 in region play.
"We grew up a little bit tonight." Bruins Head Coach Mike LeViere said. "I thought our defense improved greatly. The whole team played well."
The Tigers drew first blood in the rematch of last season's NCCAA Regional Tournament semifinal as they began the quarter with a 7-0 run. The Bruins were held scoreless for the first five minutes of the game but their scoring drought eventually ended after Sarah Thomsen was fouled and made both her free throws. Down 12-2, the Bruins made their first field goal of the game when Madison Shupe made a three and cut the Tigers' lead to 12-5. Following Shupe's three, the Bruins' main avenue of scoring continued to be free throws. Trailing 16-9, Lauren Smith came in a sparked a rally with six points and several offensive boards in the quarter. The run trimmed the Tigers' lead down to 19-13 to end the first quarter.
In the second quarter, it was the Tigers who hit an offensive lull as the Bruins clawed their way back into the game. Sha'Ron Brunson hit a three as a 5-0 helped the Bruins climb back within one. The Tigers continued to struggle offensively as five minutes into the quarter they finally ended their scoring drought. The Bruins took their first lead of the game with a steal and finish by Brunson 22-21. "I just tried to do what my assignment is," Brunson said. "Tonight, it was to play defense." The steal began another 5-0 Bruins run as the team increased their lead 25-21. The Tigers answered with an 8-0 run of their own and quickly reclaimed the lead. Madison Shupe made another three to cut the Tigers lead to 31-28. Trinity College scored to end the half as they held a 33-29 halftime lead.
The third quarter proved to be more evenly matched than the previous two with both teams scoring back and forth. The Bruins began the second half with Sarah Thomsen making a three which bought the Bruins within one of the Tigers. A free throw by Brunson and a steal by Rachel Clark allowed the Bruins to retake the lead at 35-33. Another bucket by Brunson put the Bruins up 39-36 but the Tigers came roaring back to tie the game at 39-39 and then again at 41-41 apiece. The Bruins and Tigers battled down the stretch but the Tigers held a slim 51-49 lead with just one quarter to play.
Trinity College turned over the ball early to start the final quarter. Kylee Leffew was fouled and made both of her free throws to tie the game at 51-51. Leffew followed with a three and the Bruins took a 54-51 lead. Not to be deterred, the Tigers answered with a 6-0 run as the game continued to go back and forth before the teams tied 60-60. Amanda Bates scored her first points of the game by stealing the ball and scoring which put the Bruins up by three at 63-60. After a Tigers' bucket, the Bruins answered with points of their own as they increased the lead 68-62. The Tigers looked to close the gap but the Bruins were able to hold their ground as key free throws down the stretch iced a 79-76 win.
"Overcoming that team should give us some more confidence in the region." Coach LeViere said. "We didn't play a perfect game but we did enough. There are little things that we can definitely improve on."
Sha'Ron Brunson led the Bruins with 16 points while Sarah Thomsen scored 13. Rachel Clark led the Bruins with 11 rebounds in the game to go along with 5 assists and 3 points. Despite a lower field goal percentage for the game, the Lady Bruins shot 77% from the free throw line which proved to be the difference in the game.
Next up, the Bruins will travel to Johnson and Wales University on Tuesday before coming home and playing rival Pensacola Christian College on Friday.
