NASHVILLE – The Trevecca Nazarene University women's basketball team (5-10, 2-7 GSC) picked off Mississippi College (9-7, 5-5 GSC) 56-51 in Trojan Fieldhouse on Monday night.

THE SERIES
Trevecca and Mississippi College met for the first time in women's basketball. 

HOW IT HAPPENED 
Trevecca's offense was clicking from the jump as the Trojans scored on both of their first two trips down the floor. Monique Emelifeonwu started the scoring before a 3-pointer from Tatum Shaw gave Trevecca a 5-2 lead. After back-to-back baskets from the Choctaws gave the visitors their first lead of the quarter, the Trojans finished out the frame on an 11-2 run to lead 16-8.
Mississippi College hit consecutive shots to start the second, but it was another extended run by the Trojans, this time a 12-2 spurt, which gave Trevecca its largest lead of the half, 28-15. The final five minutes of the half belonged to Mississippi College who sliced into their deficit behind eight straight points from Alexis Rowe. Trevecca took a 30-23 advantage into the break.

The third quarter started with a pair of 3-pointers for the Trojans who grew their lead to 11 over the period in the closing seconds.

The Choctaws did not go silently in the fourth. Kicking off the fourth with a 10-3 run that pulled the visitors with four at 47-43 before Cheyenne Trotter's bucket stopped the bleeding. Back-to-back baskets by MC made it a 49-47 game before Brianna Burgess gave the Trojans a little breathing room. Down the stretch both Monique Emelifeonwu and Tatum Shaw connected for huge baskets to help the Trojans to the 56-51 win.

THE TEAM
Trevecca shot 42.0% from the field. The Trojans were 7-16 (43.8%) from deep and shot 7-11 (63.6%) at the free-throw line. Mississippi College won the battle of the boards, 36-34. The Trojans dished out more assists, 13-11 and also had more blocks, 7-3. MC had more steals, 5-4.

THE PLAYERS
Tatum Shaw matched her season and career high with 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Shaw's five 3-pointers were also a career-high. Amaya Thomas added 14 points with five rebounds and three assists while Monique Emelifeonwu poured in seven points, four rebounds and five blocks.

UP NEXT 
The Trojans hit the road to close the week with a stop in Memphis to take on Christian Brothers University (0-14, 0-9 GSC) on Thursday, January 16 at 5:00 p.m.

Trevecca and CBU have met just one other time in women's basketball. The Buccaneers defeated the Trojans during the 1977-78 season when both schools competed in the NAIA.