Worcester, MA --- Trinity freshman Christina Raiti (Plainview, NY) scored a team high 11 points while junior Shantel Hanniford (Nantucket, MA) added eight points and pulled down ten boards to help propel the Bantams past Worcester State in non-conference women's basketball action this evening at the Lancer Gymnasium.

Trinity (5-2) was also paced by junior Abigail Hancock (Casco, ME) who turned in a solid all-around performance including six points, four assists, and four steals.

The Lancers (3-4) were led offensively by sophomore Shannen El-Qasem (Rutland, MA) who recorded a game high 14 points.

Third-year Meaghan Burns (W. Brookfield, MA) chipped in with 11 points as senior Meaghan O'Keefe (Warren, MA) had a strong defensive performance for the Blue and Gold corralling nine boards to go along with three steals.

Worcester State held the 14-6 lead with 11:20 on the clock before Trinity utilized an 11-4 run to get within one point of the lead on the back of a trey by Raiti at the 6:32 mark (18-17).

Highlighted by a traditional three-point play by Burns, the Lancers gave themselves a five point cushion with 2:16 left in the first half (24-19), but the Bantams did not go away quietly.

The visitors made the score a one point contest twice on a jumper by junior Moriah Sweeney (Ramsey, NJ) and again after Hancock's lay-up with six seconds remaining for the 26-25 halftime score.

Trinity slowly built up their advantage as the Blue and Gold went cold from the field to outscore the Lancers, 20-9, over the first 10 minutes of the second half for the 45-35 edge.

But Worcester State got back into the game by chipping away at the lead on a 10-3 surge over the next 7½ minutes. El-Qasem bookended the run with a lay-up at the 9:56 mark and then she finished hitting the front of a one-and-one opportunity.

Trinity committed consecutive miscues to give the hosts the ball back, but they missed a pair of shots from the field with two minutes left.

The Bantams seized the momentum back on a jumper by third-year Taylor Murtaugh (New York, NY) with 42 seconds on the clock for the seven point lead (52-42).

El-Qasem drove in for a field goal in the paint to make it a two-possession game with 20 ticks remaining, but it was not enough as Hanniford iced the game with a free throw for the final score.

Trinity was solid on both ends of the floor shooting 44 percent from the field (19-for-43) while holding Worcester State to 39 percent (15-for-38) including 28 percent in the second half (7-for-25).

The Bantams also held a slight advantage in rebounds at 30-25 and recorded 11 swipes of the basketball to hold a 22-15 lead in points off turnovers.

Worcester State returns to action on Thursday as they host Wesleyan (CT) at 6 PM, and Trinity travels to Smith Saturday afternoon with tip-off scheduled for 4 PM.