MONTGOMERY, Ala. – After eight days off the court, the Trevecca Nazarene University women's basketball team (2-5, 0-2 GSC) continued Gulf South Conference play with a loss against Auburn University Montgomery (3-3, 1-0 GSC) 73-71 in overtime in the AUM Athletics Complex on Thursday night.
THE SERIES
Trevecca and AUM have met six times in the NCAA Div. II era. The Trojans trail the all-time series 5-1 having last played the Warhawks in the 2021-22 season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Jenissa Varela hit a 3-pointer to start the scoring before AUM responded with the next five points. The Trojans added an 11-0 run of their own, holding on to a 14-5 lead with 4:02 to play. The Warhawks offered up a 9-0 run to tie things at 14-14 with just over a minute to play before Trevecca took an 18-16 lead into the second quarter.
AUM outscored the Trojans by four in the second quarter. Half of Trevecca's points in the second came from
Jeannae Bolin's who poured in eight of her 10 first half points in the frame. The Trojans knocked down two more free-throws in the second quarter to remain a perfect five for five from the line in the half. The Warhawks took a 36-34 halftime lead.
Out of the break, the Trojans offense got rolling. Fueled by 11 straight points from
Tatum Shaw, Trevecca stormed out on a 13-2 run to take a 47-38 lead with 5:42 to play in the third. Shaw scored 13 of the first 15 points for Trevecca. The final five minutes of the third largely belonged to AUM, though. The Warhawks chipped away at the Trojan lead behind solid foul shooting and by converting open looks. Trevecca held a 52-50 lead after three quarters.
The Trojans opened up the first four minutes of the fourth on an 8-2 run, to lead 60-52. That eight-point advantage was trimmed to just one by AUM with just under a minute and a half to play. After Shaw hit a clutch jumper on the right elbow, a big 3-pointer from the Warhawks' Allasha Dudley tied the game at 62-62. Neither side scored in the final :46 of regulation to force` overtime.
The overtime period was one marked by runs. AUM got the first shake of things with the first seven points of the extra period before the Trojans rattled off six points of their own. Four straight free throws by the Warhawks gave the hosts a 73-68 lead with :43 to play.
Tatum Shaw connected for her fourth 3-pointer of the night, but the Trojans could close the gap no further, falling 73-71.
THE TEAM
Trevecca shot 40.0% from the field. The Trojans were 9-24 (37.5%) from deep and shot 10-11 (90.9%) at the free-throw line. TNU outrebounded AUM 37-34 and had two more assists, 15-13. AUM doubled the Trojans in steals, 8-4 and also had more blocks, 3-1.
THE PLAYERS
Amaya Thomas and
Tatum Shaw both produced a team-high 18 points, both making seven field goals.
Cheyenne Trotter neared a double-double with 11 points and a team-best eight rebounds.
Jeannae Bolin also reached double figures with 10 points.
UP NEXT
The Trojans close up the Alabama weekend trip at the University of Montevallo (3-3, 1-0 GSC) on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
Trevecca and Montevallo have never met before in women's basketball.
