U. of Dallas Edges Trinity Women's Basketball

Irving, Texas - The Trinity Tigers women's basketball team was edged 62-61 by the University of Dallas Crusaders Saturday night in a non-conference game at Maher Center.

Trinity, which concluded its regular-season schedule, was down by five points, 46-51, with 8:26 left in the game. Two jumpers by sophomore forward Abby Dietert and junior post Lindsey Hovland brought the Tigers to within one point, 50-51, at the 6:55 mark. The lead switched back and forth until Trinity sophomore forward Kelsey Goodell put the Tigers up 54-53 at 5:03.

Junior forward Danielle Hubenak hit a jump shot at 2:28, and Trinity led 61-59 (2:28). Dallas made one of two free throws at 1:12, and the lead was whittled to 61-60. A jumper by the Crusaders Bethany Roessler with 30 seconds remaining, followed by a missed shot by Trinity, gave Dallas the win.

Trinity concluded the regular season with a 17-8 record, and Dallas improved to 13-12.

Sophomore guard Ali Marzella of Katy, Texas (Taylor), who scored 11 points, became the Tigers' career leader in 3-point baskets, with 106. Marzella, who sank a 3-pointer, broke the record of 105 set by Kim Sayles from 1998-2002.

Dietert, from Cibolo, Texas (Steele), registered a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. She shot 6-15 from the field and made 4-8 free throws.

Goodell, from Portland, Ore. (Lincoln), contributed 13 points, on 5-10 shooting. She also pulled in eight rebounds. Hovland, from Colleyville, Texas (Heritage), just missed a double-double, with nine points and 10 rebounds. Hubenak, from San Antonio (Churchill), who also scored nine points, also contributed three assists. She is Trinity's all-time assists leader, and increased her number to 329.

Dallas, which led 34-25 at halftime, was paced by Kylie Yoshimura with a game-leading 20 points.

The Tigers shot 37 percent, and the Crusaders hit 39 percent. Trinity led 54-34 in rebounding, but also committed 24 turnovers, to 16 for Dallas.

The Tigers will compete Feb. 26- 28 at the eight-team Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament at Millsaps in Jackson, Miss. At stake is an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. Trinity stands at 11-5 in conference play, and is in third place in the SCAC West Division. The Tigers were 68-57 winners over Southwestern last Friday in a SCAC game at Georgetown, Texas.

SCAC Tournament pairings will be announced early next week.