Tough TCC Defense Downs Judson
February 21, 2008
Trinity Christian 63, Judson 55 - Box
Palos Heights, Ill. Competing for positions in the CCAC rankings, Trinity Christian (10-19/3-6) played one of their best games of the year to defeat Judson University (11-15/6-4), 63-55. Heading into the game, JU was tied for second in the CCAC while TCC was fifth.
The sophomore duo of Alicia Rovertoni and Kirstin Johns combined for 26 points to lead Judson. Rovertoni netted 16 points with nine rebounds and Johns canned 10. Emily Thomassen led all scorers for Trinity with 19 points and 13 rebounds.
Cold shooting and turnovers in the first half put Judson in the hole early as they only shot 29% and made one three-pointer. JU tied the game at two just 56 seconds into the game but did not make another shot until five minutes later when TCC had a 9-4 advantage.
Cutting the lead to three on a Johns jumper, 9-6, TCC then shut out Judson's offense by going on an 11-0 run to claim a 14-point lead, 20-6. After Johns made her jumper to come within three, Judson did not hit a bucket for another five minutes.
Kelly Friestad broke the scoring drought from the floor at the 8:44 mark to bring the score to 22-11. Again, TCC stepped up their game with a 9-1 run to extend their lead to 19, 31-12. JU did not get the lead under double-digits as TCC took a 40-25 lead at the half.
Judson started the second half on a 9-3 run to bring TCC's lead down to nine, 43-34, with 16:37 left in the game. TCC's steady defense was a thorn in Judson's side as the Trolls took a commanding 15-point lead at the 8:53 mark.
Responding with a 7-0 run, Judson again cut into TCC's lead. At the 7:33 mark, TCC had only an eight-point lead, 52-44. In the next two minutes, JU missed four shots and TCC made two to push their lead to 12, 56-44.
In a minute and a half, JU reeled off five straight points to come within seven, 56-49. Friestad swooshed a three-pointer with 4:17 left in the game to cut the lead to seven. At that point it looked as though JU would get the momentum on their side. Just 30 seconds later, JU had a chance to bring TCC's lead to five but missed the shot.
TCC made it an eight-point lead, 57-49, when Thomassen made one-of-two from the free throw line. After a JU turnover, TCC missed a shot and the Johns made a shot to make it 57-51, with just 2:26 left in the game.
TCC kept the ball for the next 47 seconds and had several second chances when they finally made their fourth shot for an eight-point lead, 59-51, with 1:39 remaining. From that point, JU did not recover. Thomassen made two free throws for a 10-point lead at the 1:01 mark.
Judson did come within six, 61-55, with just 27 seconds left but did not have the magic to win it.
Overall, JU shot just 32% and only made 61% from the stripe and 23% from three-point range. TCC finished shooting 32% after making 40% in the first half. They also made 33% from the three-point line and 86% from the foul line.
Judson forced 20 turnovers but gave the ball back 17 times. TCC won the rebound battle, 47-44.
Judson will finish their regular season on Saturday, February 23rd, at 7:00 p.m. against Indiana-South Bend.
Palos Heights, Ill. Competing for positions in the CCAC rankings, Trinity Christian (10-19/3-6) played one of their best games of the year to defeat Judson University (11-15/6-4), 63-55. Heading into the game, JU was tied for second in the CCAC while TCC was fifth.
The sophomore duo of Alicia Rovertoni and Kirstin Johns combined for 26 points to lead Judson. Rovertoni netted 16 points with nine rebounds and Johns canned 10. Emily Thomassen led all scorers for Trinity with 19 points and 13 rebounds.
Cold shooting and turnovers in the first half put Judson in the hole early as they only shot 29% and made one three-pointer. JU tied the game at two just 56 seconds into the game but did not make another shot until five minutes later when TCC had a 9-4 advantage.
Cutting the lead to three on a Johns jumper, 9-6, TCC then shut out Judson's offense by going on an 11-0 run to claim a 14-point lead, 20-6. After Johns made her jumper to come within three, Judson did not hit a bucket for another five minutes.
Kelly Friestad broke the scoring drought from the floor at the 8:44 mark to bring the score to 22-11. Again, TCC stepped up their game with a 9-1 run to extend their lead to 19, 31-12. JU did not get the lead under double-digits as TCC took a 40-25 lead at the half.
Judson started the second half on a 9-3 run to bring TCC's lead down to nine, 43-34, with 16:37 left in the game. TCC's steady defense was a thorn in Judson's side as the Trolls took a commanding 15-point lead at the 8:53 mark.
Responding with a 7-0 run, Judson again cut into TCC's lead. At the 7:33 mark, TCC had only an eight-point lead, 52-44. In the next two minutes, JU missed four shots and TCC made two to push their lead to 12, 56-44.
In a minute and a half, JU reeled off five straight points to come within seven, 56-49. Friestad swooshed a three-pointer with 4:17 left in the game to cut the lead to seven. At that point it looked as though JU would get the momentum on their side. Just 30 seconds later, JU had a chance to bring TCC's lead to five but missed the shot.
TCC made it an eight-point lead, 57-49, when Thomassen made one-of-two from the free throw line. After a JU turnover, TCC missed a shot and the Johns made a shot to make it 57-51, with just 2:26 left in the game.
TCC kept the ball for the next 47 seconds and had several second chances when they finally made their fourth shot for an eight-point lead, 59-51, with 1:39 remaining. From that point, JU did not recover. Thomassen made two free throws for a 10-point lead at the 1:01 mark.
Judson did come within six, 61-55, with just 27 seconds left but did not have the magic to win it.
Overall, JU shot just 32% and only made 61% from the stripe and 23% from three-point range. TCC finished shooting 32% after making 40% in the first half. They also made 33% from the three-point line and 86% from the foul line.
Judson forced 20 turnovers but gave the ball back 17 times. TCC won the rebound battle, 47-44.
Judson will finish their regular season on Saturday, February 23rd, at 7:00 p.m. against Indiana-South Bend.
