Tiger Women Down East Texas Baptist to Open Tournament

San Antonio - The Trinity Tigers women opened their home campaign with a 66-62 victory over the East Texas Baptist Tigers Tuesday afternoon in Sams Gym at the Trinity Christmas Classic.

Trinity, which won its second straight game, improved to 3-5, and East Texas Baptist dropped to 3-6.

Tiger junior forward Abby Dietert (Cibolo, Texas/Steele) scored a career-high and team season-best 28 points in the winning effort. Dietert shot 9-16 from the field, 2-5 in 3-point range, and sank 8-11 free throws. She also led the Tigers with nine rebounds and five steals.

Dietert played a key role in the final minute of the game. With the Tigers down 59-60, Dietert scored on a layup and put Trinity up 61-60. The assist was provided by senior guard Danielle Hubenak. On Trinity's next possession, sophomore guard Anne Waidelich made a layup with 51 seconds on the clock, and then Dietert sank 1-2 free throws with under 20 seconds to play.

Waidelich (Floyd, Texas/Bland) added 20 points, shooting 9-12 from the field, and pulling in eight rebounds. Hubenak (San Antonio/Churchill) scored 10 points, dished out a game-leading eight assists, and grabbed seven rebounds.

Trinity led 31-27 at halftime, and shot 50 percent, to East Texas Baptist's 44 percent. The second half was a see-saw affair. East Texas Baptist led by four points, 58-54, at 3:12. But Dietert scored a bucket and made a free throw, as Trinity closed to 57-58 at 3:02. East Texas Baptist's Brandace Latin gave her Tigers a three-point lead, 60-57, at 2:43. Hubenak put Trinity within one point, with a layup at 2:27.

Emily Leek-Roberson led East Texas Baptist with a double-double, scoring 19 points and chalking up 10 rebounds.

The Trinity Tigers shot 41.4 percent (24-58), to 43.9 percent (25-57) for East Texas Baptist. Trinity led 43-35 in rebounding, and held a 17-12 lead in offensive boards.

Trinity will take on Hardin-Simmons at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the only action of the tournament. Union (N.Y.) was unable to travel to Texas because of severe weather conditions in the Northeast, and had to withdraw from the tournament. Wednesday's game between Union and East Texas Baptist, scheduled for noon, was canceled, as was the Dutchwomens' Thursday's match-up with Hardin-Simmons.