ELGIN, IL. - Down by three with 5:52 left in the game, Judson University (11-8/3-1) finished on a 12-4 run en route to their 11^th win of the season, 55-50, over Trinity Christian College. Kirstin John's (Belvidere, IL) led Judson's charge with 21 points which was just one-point shy of her career-high. The win keeps Judson just one game behind Cardinal Stritch in the hunt for a CCAC Championship.

CCAC rebounding leader Alicia Rovertoni (Columbia, IL) collected her 14^th career double-double and fourth of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Trinity Christian's Amanda Learned had 18.

Judson's offense, which only shot 32%, kicked in at the right moment with just under six minutes left in the game. The Trolls Paige Bergeland nailed two free throws for a 46-43 lead with 5:52 left in the game. Judson's Aubrey Parsons (Sterling, IL) started a 12-4 run by making one of her two free throws. At the 4:17 mark, Rovertoni tied the game at 46 but Trinity Christian's Christine Iwema made it 48-46 just 18 seconds later.

Kristi Siemers (Bensenville, IL) put Judson ahead for good when she swooshed her second three-pointer of the night for a one-point advantage, 49-48 (3:47). After a minute of no one scoring and three missed shots and free throws, Kim Peek (Springdale, AR) hit her second free throw as Judson took a two-point lead, 50-48. Johns then made three of her next four free throws in a 30 second span putting Judson up by five points, 53-48, at the 1:52 mark.

Another minute later, the Trolls Iwema made a lay up to bring Judson's lead back to three but Rovertoni found the net with 24 seconds left to put Judson back up by five, 55-50. Trinity Christian had one more chance to cut into the lead but did not convert.

Judson's defense held Trinity Christian to just 15 points in the second half and 23% shooting after the Trolls scored 35 points and shot 50% in the first half. Iwema made Trinity Christian's only points in the final 5:52 hitting buckets at the 3:59 and 00:53 marks.

Trinity Christian took as large as an eight-point lead in the first half, 10-2, with 14:38 left in the half. Judson answered with an 8-0 run to tie the game at 10 (12:23). The Trolls scored the next four points before Judson added a 5-0 run for a one-point lead, 15-14, at the 10:36 mark. Johns had all five points in the run with a three-pointer and a jumper.

Judson saw their last lead of two, before they took the lead in the final six minutes of the second half, 24-22, fall with an 8-0 run by the Trolls over three minute period. With 3:56 left in the first half, Trinity Christian's Emily Thomassen hit a layup for the 30-24 lead. Jennifer Brink canned a three-pointer to give the Trolls a seven-point lead, 33-26, with 3:24 to go in the half. Judson cut the lead down to two, 33-31, with 36 seconds left but Iwema banked a layup with 11 seconds to go for a four-point lead at the half, 35-31.

The difference in the game came in the second half as Judson shut down Trinity Christian's hot offense holding them to just 15 points and no three-pointers. Trinity Christian finished shooting 38% from the floor, 37% from beyond the arc, and 78% from the stripe. Judson's offense was not much better as they only made 32% of their shots and hit 33% from the three-point line and 50% from the free throw line.

Judson forced 22 turnovers and only lost the ball six times with 13 steals. They were out rebounded, though, 41-24.

Judson will now travel to Indiana, on Wednesday, January 28^th, to face Calumet College at 5:30 p.m.