JACKSON, Tenn. - Last season the Trojans upset four seeded teams to advance to the NAIA Championship game. This season, the Trojans were upset in the first round, 65-57 by sixth-seeded Biola University. The 29th Annual NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship is being played at Oman Arena in Jackson, Tenn.

Trevecca's season ends at 25-8 and ranked No. 9 in the NAIA. 

Trevecca scored the first two points of the game on a Jennifer Bognar field goal, but Biola (20-11) scored seven straight points to lead 7-1. Both teams struggled offensively in the first half as Biola led 15-10 with 7:37 remaining in the half. Jessica Spencer gave the Trojans the lead 18-15 as she completed a 8-0 Trevecca run with a field goal at the 4:06 mark. Spencer and K.C. Van Atta were Trevecca's leading scorer's at the half with six points apiece. Trevecca shot just 20% (6-of-30) from the field in the first half and hit just 2-of-15 from three-point range.

In the second half, Trevecca improved their field goal percentage, but not their three-point shooting. Neither team could distance themselves from each other until Chelsey Taylor put Trevecca up 40-35 with a field goal at the 12:07 mark. Trevecca looked to be moving toward the next round when they pulled ahead by six points (43-37) with a K.C. Van Atta three-pointer with 11:05 to go.

Trevecca coach Gary Van Atta said, "I thought that we had finally put it all together. We had played great defense to that point, but the offense just wasn't there. That run seemed to get us on track."

Biola had different plans as they used an 11-2 run to take a 48-45 lead with 6:23 remaining. With 2:22 to go the game was tied at 52. Biola pulled ahead 55-52 and would not relinquish the lead the rest of the way.

Jennifer Bognar, who was limited to just 18 minutes due to foul trouble, had just 11 points in the game. The senior and leading scorer came on big in the second half including back-to-back field goals that pulled the Trojans ahead 49-48 with 4:44 to go.

Gary Van Atta said of the senior, "Jennifer was hidden behind Jackie Weaver as a freshman, but now she finishes her career with All-American honors. What a great story she has been. She fought today despite everything seeming to work against her."

"What is incredible is that we had a one point lead at the half despite shooting just 20%. Last year we had good defense and timely offense, this year our defense was there, but the offense just didn't materialize."

"I hope today's game is a sign of things to come for Jessica Spencer. Just like Angelica Sails in last year's tournament, a new face appeared and I hope Jessica now knows she can be a significant contributor to the team in her last two years."

K.C. Van Atta led Trevecca with 12 points and had six rebounds and two blocks. Bognar had 11 points and four rebounds. Christian Gibson had eight points and a team-high seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Abby Lawson had 10 points. As a team the Trojans were 19-of-60 (31.7%) from the field, 5-of-31 (16%) from three-point range, and 14-of-19 (74%) from the foul line. Biola had a 47-35 advantage in rebounding.

The loss ends the career for two seniors, Jennifer Bognar and Casey Attebery. .

Jackson Sun Coverage - includes photo gallery
Trevecca Tourney Notes:  click here

View Official Bracket:  click for PDF

Victory Sports Net:  click here

This is Trevecca's tenth consecutive appearance in the NAIA National Championships
Trevecca restarted women's basketball 13 years ago, the first year the TranSouth was formed
Only two other Trevecca teams have won more games (31, 27) in a season than this year's 25 wins
This is Trevecca's eighth 20-win season
This is Trevecca's fifth consecutive 20-win season
Six of Trevecca's seven losses this year are to teams ranked in the top 10 ( #1, #1, #1, #3, #4, #10)
Trevecca has 10 wins this year over ranked teams (#5, #9, #18, #19, #21, #22, #23, #23, #23, #25)

Gary Van Atta at Trevecca Overall 106-31
Gary Van Atta at Trevecca in TranSouth 47-18
Gary Van Atta four-year College record 377-202
Gary Van Atta in NAIA (including Montevallo) 272-80
Gary Van Atta coaching record (including HS/JC) 508-243

Jennifer Bognar is Trevecca's first player to have over 1500 career points and 700 career rebounds
Jennifer Bognar holds Trevecca record for career rebounds (737)
Abby Lawson has scored 1298 career points