SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Juniors Reilly Campbell (Wallingford, Conn.) and Emma Wax (Pine Brook, N.J.) combined for 34 points and 22 rebounds to lead the visiting Trinity College Bantams to a 58-45 victory over the Springfield College Pride in the opening game of the Hampton Inn West Springfield/Naismith Women's Basketball Classic this evening at Blake Arena.  Trinity improves to 10-1 with its seventh victory in a row and will close out 2022 against Skidmore in at Springfield tomorrow at 5:30 p.m.  The Pride, ranked No. 13 in the nation, falls to 9-2 and sees its eight-game winning come to and end.  Springfield plays Wilkes in the final game of the Naismith Classic tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.

With the Bantams trailing, 12-9, with 3:33 left in the first quarter, Wax made two treys and rookie guard Theresa Twardosky (Merrimack, N.H.) made one to put Trinity ahead, 18-12, with less than a minute remaining before the first break.  Springfield rallied to take a 20-18 lead early in the second quarter on a three-pointer by Kayla Madden only to have Campbell and junior Tori Varsamis (Belmont, Mass.) score 10 of the game's next 11 points.  Campbell fed first-year Lucy Dorion (Needham, Mass.) in the final second of the first half and Trinity led, 32-26.

Campbell scored six points in a 7-0 Trinity run early in the third quarter to push the Bantam lead to double digits at 41-31.  Springfield made one final push midway through the fourth quarter, getting to 52-45 on a two freebies from Madden, but the Bantams closed the game with the final six points to seal the victory.   Trinity outrebounded Springfield by a 52-29 margin, including 11 each by Campbell and Wax.  Campbell also made eight off 11 field goals, scored a game-high 18 points, made two steals, and blocked four shots.  Wax added 16 points and Varsamis finished with nine. Madden and Sam Hourihan had 12 points each for the Pride.

"I thought tonight was a phenomenal team and program win. Everyone contributed and brought the energy and intensity needed to get the road win against a ranked opponent," said Trinity Head Coach Emily Garner.  ""I thought we had a balanced attack led by the defense of Bria Fuller and Frankie Silva, a great inside out combo of Reilly Campbell, Emma Wax, Tori Varsamis and Theresa Theresa Twardosky and great composure by our point guards. We're incredibly proud of this group and excited to continue the second half of the season."