Trojan News

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - NAIA No. 16 Trevecca (7-4) fell to No. 18 Wayland Baptist (7-4) 68-65 in a lunch time Top 25 battle at the Ocean Center in the Daytona Beach Shootout.

After falling behind by as many as 15 points (38-23) the Trojans rallied to tie the game at 65, but their rally fell short 68-65.

When Trevecca freshman Kristen Majors hit 1-of-2 free throws at the 16:23 mark of the first half the Trojans led 10-2. Neither team would score again until the 14:07 mark when Flying Queen Edite Kresa hit her first of six three-pointer in the game. With 5:07 remaining the Trojans pushed their led to 22-19 on a pair of Paige McFarlin free throws, but the Flying Queens from Plainview, Texas took control of the remainder of the half. The Trojans wouldn't score again until there were just 35 seconds remaining in the half while Wayland Baptist scored 13 unanswered points to give the Flying Queens a 10-point (32-22) lead. Wayland Baptist were the benefactor of four free throws with 11 seconds remaining in the half when Trevecca coach Gary Van Atta was given two technical fouls and ejected from the game. The free shots game Wayland Baptist a 38-23 lead. Majors grabbed a rebound for the Trojans and hit a layup to make the halftime score 38-25 Wayland.

Trevecca cut the lead to just eight points (38-30) by scoring the first five points of the second half. Paige McFarlin hit a pair of free throws pulling TNU to within eight (47-39) again with 16:01 to go. Neither team would score again until Wayland's Alex Williams hit a three-point basket with 13:52 remaining putting the WBU lead into double figures again at 50-39. With 11:54 to go Wayland had rebuilt their lead to 14 points (57-43). Trevecca used a 20-7 run to close the Wayland lead to just one point (64-63) with 3:54 remaining in the game. Trevecca was able to tie the game at 65 with 1:19 to go, but the Trojans wouldn't score again and Wayland added three points for a 68-65 victory.

Abby Lawson (22) and Paige McFarlin (14) led the Trojans in scoring. McFarlin led the team with nine rebounds and three assists. Lawson had a team high three blocks and three steals while also adding four rebounds and two assists. Jessica Spencer had four rebounds, two blocks and a steal.

As a team the Trojans shot 37% (21-57) from the field, 31% (5-16) from beyond the arch, and 69% (18-26) from the foul line. Trevecca hit just 8-for-14 from the foul line in the second half, but hit 50% in the second half from the field (14-28) and from three-point (4-8) range. Trevecca hit just 7-of-29 (24%) from the field and 1-for-8 (12%) from three-point range in the first half.

Trevecca's defense kept them close in both halves, limiting the Flying Queens to just 38% (19-58) shooting from the field. Wayland did flourish from beyond the three-point line hitting 8-of-18 for the game and hit 76% (22-29) from the charity stripe.

Trevecca outscored Wayland 24-18 in the paint and on points scored off turnovers (17-16). WBU had the edge in bench scoring (30-10) and second chance points (24-8). In the first half the Flying Queens had a 19-4 advantage in second chance scoring. Overall WBU had a 47-39 rebounding edge and had 20 offensive rebounds in the game.

Trevecca, playing without two starters, found themselves in foul trouble early. Starting point guard Christian Gibson picked up two quick fouls and played just 32 total minutes before fouling out of the game in the second half. Abby Lawson and K.C. Van Atta also were saddled with four fouls during the game.

Trevecca will resume play versus Mid-Continent University (1-10, 0-0) on Thursday, January 7 at 6 p.m. at Moore Gym. It will be the first TranSouth action of the year for both teams.