Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – The Trinity College women's basketball team erased a six-point halftime deficit to score a 65-62 come-from-behind win versus Skidmore on Saturday afternoon at the Williamson Sports Center. The Bantams won their season opener for the second straight year, while the Thoroughbreds moved to 0-1 with the loss.
With just over 90 seconds remaining in regulation, Trinity trailed, 62-56, before ending the game on a 9-0 run en route to the triumph. Down the stretch, the Bantams pulled within four thanks to a layup by sophomore swing player Sheena Landy (Durham, Conn.) and on the ensuing possession Skidmore missed a pair of free throws. Trinity then made it a one-point game on a trey from sophomore guard Kaitlin Lewis (Demarest, N.J) and on the other end the Thoroughbreds missed a layup and committed a foul to put Trinity senior guard Bianca Brenz (Lawrence, Mass.) on the line with 27 seconds remaining in the contest. Brenz knocked down a pair of free throws to give the Bantams a 63-62 advantage and Skidmore missed their shot attempt on the following possession as junior center Mackenzie Griffin (Stamford, Conn.) grabbed the defensive rebound. With 14 seconds left on the clock, Brenz once again hit two free throws to give the visitors a three-point lead. Skidmore missed their last-second shot attempt as the Bantams escaped with the road victory.
Senior forward Taylor Higgins (Merrick, N.Y.) filled out the stat sheet for the Bantams, scoring a team-high 16 points to go along with five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Two other Trinity players scored in double figures as Griffin just missed a double-double with 15 points and nine boards, while junior guard Christina Raiti scored 10 points thanks to shooting 2-of-5 from beyond the arc.
The Thoroughbreds were led offensively by Kelly Donnelly with a game-high 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Angela Botiba added 12 points and nine boards.
Skidmore came out of the gate hot, opening the game on a 12-4 run before stretching their lead to as many as nine at 23-12 just over half way through the first half. Trinity chipped away and cut the deficit to two at 26-24 thanks to a layup by junior forward Melanie Mills (Woodstock, Conn.) with a minute and left in the half. The Thoroughbreds closed out the first half with a pair of layups to take a 30-24 lead into the break.
In the second half, Trinity fought back to tie the game at 38 apiece with 12:52 remaining as Higgins hit a three. Over the next six minutes the teams traded points as Mills gave Trinity its first lead of the half with two free throws with 6:18 left in the game. After a layup and a free throw by Higgins, Trinity stretched its lead to four at 56-52 before Skidmore went on an 8-0 run.
As a team, the Bantams shot 38 percent from the field and knocked down five three-pointers, while the Thoroughbreds shot 37 percent and knocked down 2-of-8 three-point attempts. Trinity held a large advantage at the foul line, hitting 14-of-19 as Skidmore hit just 10-of-21. The Bantams defense played well, forcing 16 turnovers and out rebounding the hosts, 48-44.
Trinity wraps up the Skidmore Tip-Off Tournament with a neutral site contest versus Cortland State on Sunday, Nov. 16, at noon.