Box Score ASHLAND, Ohio. – The No. 5 seeded Trevecca Nazarene University women's basketball team (22-9) traveled to Ashland University for the second week in a row, this time for the 2023 NCAA Division II Midwest Regional tournament. Their quarterfinal matchup pitted them against No. 4 seed Michigan Tech University (25-7), the Trojans pulled the upset with a 65-63 victory. The win garners the Trojans another matchup against No. 1 Ashland University (32-0) on Saturday at 6:30 PM (CT) in the semifinals. Ashland hosted the Great Midwest Conference tournament last weekend, Trevecca and Ashland met in the championship game.
THE SERIES
The Trojans and Huskies had never met in women's basketball, with the Trojans now having the advantage. They have two common opponents this season. The Huskies lost to Ashland 77-49 on December 29 and beat Walsh 63-47 two days later on New Year's Eve. Trevecca lost both meetings with Ashland and went 3-0 against Walsh this season.
THE FLOW
The first quarter was slowly paced as the teams tested each other, with neither team able to gain the upper hand for long. Trevecca's Keeley Carter made a layup with a second left in the first quarter to give the Trojans a 13-12 advantage.
Michigan Tech came out with a flurry to start the second quarter and built the largest lead of the game to date at 20-16. The Trojans scored nine straight to take a 25-20 lead with 4:01 left in the half. Keeley Carter scored five of those points. Trevecca led by as many as eight (30-22) and used that momentum to take a 34-27 halftime lead.
The Trojans started the second half where they left off, scoring the first seven points and forcing a Michigan Tech timeout. Keeley Carter added five more points to her totals, fueling a 14-point (41-27) Trojan advantage. Michigan Tech rolled back as they would not be deterred, scoring 14 straight points to tie the game at 41-41 with 3:54 left in the third quarter. The Trojans regained their composture and lead, but it was short-lived. Michigan Tech closed the quarter with a 7-0 run and led 48-45 heading to the fourth quarter.
Lili Wilken sparked the Trojan rally to open the fourth with a field goal and a pair of three-pointers to put the Trojans up 55-54. The battle was on as Michigan Tech punched back for a 56-55 lead. Then the Trojans took the lead when Faith Wilken made a layup, and Emma Palmer and Keeley Carter followed, making four straight at the line for a 61-56 lead with 4:23 left. Unsurprisingly, the Huskies got within 61-60 with 1:27 remaining. But senior Bayleigh Carmichel and junior Keeley Carter each made a pair of free-throw to preserve the win.
THE PLAYERS
Keeley Carter just missed a triple-double leading the Trojans with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. Emma Palmer added 13 points and seven rebounds. Lili Wilken scored 10 points and two rebounds. Faith Wilken added four points, four rebounds, two assists, and four steals. Kor Fornesa Liu added seven points, five rebounds, and two steals.
THE TEAMS
The Trojans shot 34.3% (23-67) from the floor, 35.7% (5-14) from three-point range, and 93.3% (14-15) from the free-throw line. The Trojans outrebounded Michigan Tech 41-39 and steals 10-4. The Trojans had 12 points off turnovers, while Michigan Tech only had five.
UP NEXT
The Trojans get a third meeting this year with No. 1 Ashland University (32-0) on Saturday at 6:30 PM in the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional tournament. The Eagles have not lost to the Trojans and are 4-0 all-time vs. Trevecca. The Eagles defeated the Trojans in the Great Midwest Championship Game on March 4, 83-65.
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