WBB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Riley Zayas]

Good win for Trinity at HSU last night - details in Riley's substack (once today's article is published), but a pretty back-and-forth game until Ashlyn Milton (a game-high 17 points) hit three straight threes in the fourth quarter to account for most of the final 76-69 margin.  The teams will resume battle Saturday afternoon in San Antonio and it'll be interesting to see how the teams make adjustments given the short timeframe (and Thanksgiving in-between).   

Ashlyn is shooting the three ball well so far in this young season, 12-30 (40%) largely on the strength of 8-12 in the last two games.

Milton has really emerged and her play was key down the stretch. As I mentioned in my post today, I was most impressed by Trinity's defensive effort, which led to points on the offensive end too. HSU likes to play fast, and push it in transition. Trinity hung with them extremely well. As you said, I'll be interested to see how Saturday's game plays out and what adjustments are made. If Trinity wins both of these, I could see them going to #4 in the Top 25, though Whitewater has a really strong case as well.

[D3Navy]

Trinity is rolling.  The pressure they apply is severe and it becomes very, very difficult for opposing teams when TU takes 30 more shots and causes 25 more turnovers.

Maggie Robbins has emerged as an outstanding team leader and force across all aspects of the game.  Back-to-back personal scoring bests and leading the team in rebounding last night against LeTourneau.  A special player.

All 15 players played and scored last night as well.

It'll be a tall order to match the athleticism of this team. 

Yet another tremendous team in an amazing year of athletics for the Tigers!

[Ron Boerger]

All 15 who were able to play ... Maggie Shipley and Ava Limonciello were out with injuries.  Hopefully we get them both back before the big matchup with undefeated UMHB on the 19th.

Speaking of USBWA national player-of-the-week Maggie Robbins, it's hard to believe she was only named honorable-mention all-SCAC last season despite leading the conference in steals by a wide margin.  Hopefully between being named the MVP of the SCAC tournament and her play this year, the coaches will give her a little more credit when the end of season awards come around this year.  She has really stepped up her play since Shipley went down.

Oh, and with his next win Coach Hill will set the all-time win record for TUWB, surpassing Becky Geyer with whom he is tied after Sunday's victory. 

[Ron Boerger]

Schreiner may be a threat in the SCAC this year.  After they pushed UMHB to the end last night (tied with under a minute left before losing by three) I had a quick look at their results and while they are only 3-5, played HSU tight before losing by 4, put 120+ on Birmingham-Southern in a 32 point win, lost to McMurry (now 6-0) and Millsaps (6-2) in OT in their opener and third game, easily handled HPU and got past LeTourneau.  The only bad loss was by double digits to Sul Ross (3-3).   It's a young team with three sophomore starters and one which deploys a pressure game, averaging 12+ steals per contest. 

After an eastern swing to open SCAC play (at St Thomas/Centenary) they will play three straight road games against scholarship opponents UIW (D1), St Mary's (D2), Angelo State (D1) which should prepare them well for their next SCAC game Dec 29 at Trinity before returning for their only home game of the month against Colorado College. 

[Ron Boerger]

(now) #3 Trinity jumped out to a huge early lead at home against #16 UMHB on the strength of a 17-0 first quarter run, but the Lady Cru's defensive pressure and length got to Trinity, UMHB figured out a way around the Tiger pressure, and during a huge third quarter trimmed what was a 20-point lead a minute into the quarter all the way down to two six minutes later.  The home team would find its offense again in the fourth - mostly in the paint with strong play from Claire Hale (six of her eight points) before she fouled out - to win 74-63 on a day when the outcome could have been different had UMHB's shooting touch (21-77, 27.3%) been just a bit more accurate.  Trinity was again led by Ashlyn Milton's 21, with 11 each from Maggie Robbins and Addie Putnam, who also had 11 boards.  UMHB was led by Ashley Faux's 16 and 12; Weade Adeleke was the only other Cru player in double figures with 13 despite playing in foul trouble most of the night.  Leading scorer Arieona Rosborough also battled foul trouble all night and was held to 2 points in her 20 minutes.

This is a *very* young UMHB team (17 freshman players, 7 sophomores, 8 juniors, only one senior) who with continued development will be a force in the region for years to come. 

For Trinity, the best news of the evening was the return of Maggie Shipley, who saw spot duty (2 points in 9 minutes) early in the game.  Her injured shoulder was heavily braced.

[Ron Boerger]

Trinity's upcoming game against Schreiner could be interesting as the Mountaineers have played three straight scholarship opponents this month.  Two were losses to D1 opponents, but in the third Schreiner defeated D2 St Mary's (TX) [5-5/1-3 LSC] by a 66-62 count, forcing 22 turnovers thanks largely to 15 steals.  The other two weren't close (a 92-41 loss at Incarnate Word, and a 101-65 loss at Angelo State) but playing against that level of competition should be very good preparation for Thursday. 

[Ron Boerger]

An interesting game yesterday where both teams showed the effect of a long holiday break (it took over two minutes before anyone could score).  Schreiner had the best of it early, jumping out to a 16-5 lead with just over a minute left in the first quarter and holding a 18-11 lead at the end of the quarter despite some sloppy play that led to a couple of turnovers and easy baskets in the last minute.  The visitors would expand that lead to 13 just over a minute into the quarter before Trinity would slowly reel them in the rest of the half to trail by one at the break, 32-31. 

The third quarter was the difference as the Tiger women would outscore their entire first half to take a 63-41 lead, and while Schreiner would chip into the advantage in the final stanza, the difference was too much to overcome as the home team would emerge victorious by a 74-60 count.  Despite foul trouble limiting her to 21 minutes, Ashlyn Milton once again led the way (and all scorers) with 20 points including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc; Josline Hernandez led Schreiner with 13. 

Schreiner is a quick team who had effective defensive rotations, and usually was able to escape Trinity's press with little difficulty.  Steals were relatively even at 17-16 Trinity, but Schreiner did suffer 38 turnovers to Trinity's 31 - numbers way higher than either coach would like. 

Next up for both squads is Colorado College, who at 6-5 have recovered nicely from a 1-4 start, with the only loss in their last six a 34-point blowout to undefeated #4 CNU (11-0) in Puerto Rico.  The Colorado Tigers face Schreiner in Kerrville on New Year's Eve, then head to San Antonio two days later to face Trinity on Monday. 

[Ron Boerger]

Trying to figure out what has gone so wrong so quickly in Sherman, where Austin College has struggled to a very uncharacteristic 0-13 start.  There were some losses to graduation (Natalie McCoy and Kacie West, the top two scorers) but from a very quick comparison of last year's and this year's rosters it looks like over half of last year's undergraduates did not return (only 6 of 13, if my quick comparison is correct).  None of the non-returnees were significant contributors.  That said, the 'Roos came within two at Millsaps (10-2) last month, shortly thereafter took UT-Dallas to OT, but last week fell at Centenary for the Ladies' first win of the season.  It won't get any easier for Coach Filander's squad this weekend as they face Schreiner tonight and Trinity tomorrow. 

Speaking of Trinity (now receiving multiple first-place votes and up to #2 in the d3hoops.com poll), it was great to see Maggie Shipley have a breakout game Sunday against Colorado College, and if you watched the first half, when she was held scoreless on 0-5 shooting, you never saw it coming.  The shoulder injury has taken some adjusting to, obviously, but Maggie once again showed her potential in the second half where she scored 19 points on 7-9 shooting (1-2 from deep) and 4-5 from the line.  Her 19 points in only 19 minutes led all scorers.  Here's to continued healing and recovery the rest of the way.

[jekelish]

One of the wildest statistical games you'll ever see in a losing effort for Austin College tonight. They got a SCAC record 13 threes from Megan O'Neil (second most in D3 WBB history), 25 rebounds (fourth most in SCAC history) from Naomi Anamekwe, and 12 assists from Sarah Gwin while shooting 47.4% from three as a team... and lost by 20, because they turned it over 25 times with those turnovers resulting in 43 points for Schreiner.

[D3Navy]

One of the wildest statistical games you'll ever see in a losing effort for Austin College tonight. They got a SCAC record 13 threes from Megan O'Neil (second most in D3 WBB history), 25 rebounds (fourth most in SCAC history) from Naomi Anamekwe, and 12 assists from Sarah Gwin while shooting 47.4% from three as a team... and lost by 20, because they turned it over 25 times with those turnovers resulting in 43 points for Schreiner.

Amazing!  It's been fun watching SCAC women this year.

[Ron Boerger]

The other game in North Texas was a foul-infested mess (52 called) where Trinity won 78-67 despite having three starters foul out (including Ashlyn Milton whose night ended after only 18 minutes on the floor) and another ending the game with four.  Fortunately Maggie Shipley again led the way off the bench, scoring a season-high 22 points in 29 minutes (7-14, 1-4 from deep, 7-8 from the line), likely a few more than planned due to the team's foul troubles.  Josie Napoli also had a season high 19 (on 8-10 shooting, 2-2 from deep) before fouling out with 1:34 remaining.  Despite the tight calls, Trinity was able to force 16 steals - seven by Maggie Robbins, who also had six assists to lead the team - and 27 UD turnovers.

[D3Navy]

The other game in North Texas was a foul-infested mess (52 called) where Trinity won 78-67 despite having three starters foul out (including Ashlyn Milton whose night ended after only 18 minutes on the floor) and another ending the game with four.  Fortunately Maggie Shipley again led the way off the bench, scoring a season-high 22 points in 29 minutes (7-14, 1-4 from deep, 7-8 from the line), likely a few more than planned due to the team's foul troubles.  Josie Napoli also had a season high 19 (on 8-10 shooting, 2-2 from deep) before fouling out with 1:34 remaining.  Despite the tight calls, Trinity was able to force 16 steals - seven by Maggie Robbins, who also had six assists to lead the team - and 27 UD turnovers.

That U Dallas game was an interesting one.  Trinity raced out early to a big lead but seemed to stall.  I'm also curious about the absence of Maggie Robbins recently as a scorer.  A few weeks ago, she won the national player of the week honor after 18- and 20-point outings.  Perhaps that is a capability Trinity wanted to put on display but is now keeping in reserve?

They played superbly a few minutes ago against Austin College, a game that included Ashlyn Milton becoming the leading 3-point shooter in Trinity history.  So much fun to watch!

[Ron Boerger]

I'm also curious about the absence of Maggie Robbins recently as a scorer.  A few weeks ago, she won the national player of the week honor after 18- and 20-point outings.

I think it was more a matter of Trinity having to find offense early after Maggie Simmons went down; that and the teams they were playing at the time were leaving the inside more open than teams they've played recently.  Maggie R has traditionally been more of a facilitator and defensive difference-maker and seems to have returned to that role as of late.

Two very different games this weekend.  As they are wont to do - especially in Seguin - TLU played Trinity very well in a physical game that saw the visitors awarded no fewer than 43 free throws.  In what has become a welcome development of late, Josie Napoli, who transferred from PLU after leading the Lutes in scoring (14.7ppg) as a first year, led the way with 23 points on a night when both Ashlyn Milton and Maggie Shipley would struggle (a combined 3-9).  Maggie Robbins was active driving to the basket and contributed most of her 15 from the charity stripe.  Trinity won 76-65 in a game where three of the five starters played at least 33 minutes.

Yesterday's experience in Southwestern was totally different as the team jumped all over the Pirates early in a game which was over before halftime by which time the Tigers had doubled up the home team by a 78-39 count.  The 42 points scored in the first quarter on nearly 70% shooting while forcing 13 turnovers (ten steals) would break a school record set earlier in the season.  Once again Napoli led the way, this time from beyond the arc where she went 6-of-9 on her way to scoring 24 - one off her career high scored at PLU - in just 16 minutes.  Milton found her shot again, scoring 21 on 5-of-7 from deep, also in just 16 minutes.  Other double digit scorers:  Shipley, 12 points in 15 minutes off the bench, Claire Hale, 11 in 11, and Bailey Timmons who had 10 off the bench in 14 minutes.  I have no doubt Trinity could have put 150 on the board had they wanted against the outmanned Pirates this night, but Coach Hill used the opportunity to get playing time for the entire bench with all but one player getting at least 10 minutes in a 125-89 win (that player, Jennifer Tierney, was the only player not to score in her nine minutes).  Maggie Robbins only took one shot but contributed eight assists and three steals in her 14 minutes.  As Georgetown is a few minutes up the road I got to be there and the first half was a thing of beauty to behold. 

Trinity returns home next weekend for what should be two relatively easy games against Centenary and St. Thomas, then has the following weekend off before what should be the toughest remaining games on the regular-season calendar at Schreiner the last day of the month, followed by the annual hop onto Southwest (?) to play Colorado College the first Saturday in February.  They close out conference play with four straight at home against the four they played this week and last before hosting the conference championships at the end of February. 

[jekelish]

I just saw the footage from the end of the third quarter in the Southwestern/Schreiner game on Friday night and... oof. Tough sequence of events for the conference with what was essentially a bench clearing brawl (short-lived, but still, punches were thrown, players were tackled, players came off the bench, ejections were made, etc). Not a great look for either team, especially since the foul that incited it wasn't particularly dirty.

[gordonmann]

Congrats to Trinity which is ranked No. 1 for the first time since they were defending champions (December 2003)

https://www.d3hoops.com/top25/women/2022-23/week7