ONU Defeats Trinity Christian for Sixth Straight Win

PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. – In its second true road game of the season, the Olivet Nazarene University women's basketball team knocked off the Trinity Christian College Trolls, 93-79, inside the DeVos Gym, on Saturday.

The Trolls had a strong start to the first quarter marking the first nine points until the Tigers tied the game up scoring the next nine points. That run was highlighted by a three-pointer by Kaitlyn Engle (SO/Wapakoneta, Ohio). After the Tigers tied the game at 11, the Tigers notched 9 of the next 11 points, highlighted by 4 points by Olivia Demosthenes (FR/Bloomington, Ill.). At the score 21-19, Karina Smits (JR/Pewaukee, Wis.) and Kennedy Johnson (JR/Romulus, Mich.) hit field goals and extended the Tiger lead to 23-19. The Tigers tallied only four more points the rest of the quarter and took a 27-26 lead going into the second quarter.

At the beginning of the second quarter, Demosthenes marked the first three points making the score 30-26. The rest of the second quarter was neck-and-neck until with three minutes to go, Smits and Molly Ream (FR/Fort Wayne, Ind.) both knocked down three-pointers making the score 46-37. The Tigers kept the Trolls in check not allowing a field goal in the last 3:15 minutes and led 48-40 going into the half. Demosthenes led the Tigers with 10 points and Ashley Ford (SR/Illiopolis, Ill.) led the Tigers with 8 boards.

Halftime: Olivet Nazarene 48, Trinity Christian 40

The Trolls cut the Tiger lead to three at the beginning of the third quarter making the score 50-47. However, Kaitlyn Clark (JR/Orting, Wash.) and Johnson gave the momentum back to the Tigers hitting field goals moving the score 54-47. With four minutes to go, with the Tigers leading 60-51, Ford and Ream both made field goals and grew the Tiger lead to 65-51. The Tigers only allowed two more field goals the rest of the half and took a 74-57 lead going into the fourth. The Trolls attempted to cut into the Tiger lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter marking 9-of-the-next-12 points until Smits made a three-pointer. The Tigers still led 80-66.

The Trolls held the Tigers to only four more field goals the entire quarter, but the Tigers won their sixth straight game, 93-79.

Game Vitals

Score: Olivet Nazarene 93 | Trinity Christian 79

Records: Olivet Nazarene 7-1 (3-0 CCAC) | Trinity Christian 3-5 (1-2 CCAC)

Location: DeVos Gymnasium | Trinity Christian College | Palos Heights, Ill.

Quick Hits

• Smits led the Tigers with 17 points and went 5-for-7 from behind the arc.
• Johnson followed with 15 points, 4 assists, and 4 steals.
• Off the bench, Demosthenes contributed 12 points.
• Ford led the Tigers with nine rebounds.
• The Tigers outscored the Trolls 43-7 off the bench.
• The Tigers caused 27 Troll turnovers.

What's Next?

The Tigers travel to Elgin, Ill. on Wednesday, January 20, to face Judson University. Tipoff inside the Lindner Fitness Center starts at 5:30 p.m.

--ONU—

*Contact: Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director, stviebrock@olivet.edu