The Triton College women's basketball team held their own in earning a split to open the new season at the State Fair Community College McDonald's Classic Nov. 1 and 2 in Sedalia, MO.
The Trojans took on the host Roadrunner's in their first contest in a battle of a pair of 20+ win NJCAA Division I teams who both finished runners-ups in their respective regions a year ago.
Triton jumped out of the gate to a 13-0 lead to keep the home crowd quiet in a wire-to-wire 71-50 win. The Trojans led 21-5 after the one quarter and 41-18 at halftime. Triton's biggest advantage was by as many as 33 points at 58-25 late in the third quarter.
The win was the first road victory against a non-Region 4 Division I opponent since Triton's move up to the NJCAA's highest division in 2021. Â
State Fair had no answers for the guard play of
Jada Branch and
Jayla Rankin. Branch the freshman out of Schaumburg was impressive in her first game with a game-high 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field. She also added a game-high steals.
Rankin, the freshman from Milwaukee poured in 18 points on 5-of-10 shooting along with 6-of-8 shooting from the free throw line. Rankin had a game-high four assists.
Sophomore center
Jordyn Coleman finished with nine point and 11 rebounds. Newcomer
Jazzmine Smith chipped in with eight points for the Trojans, whose blistering defense forced 27 Roadrunner turnovers.
The next day, Triton gave No. 1 ranked and defending NJCAA Division II National Champions Kirkwood Community College (IA) all they could handle before the Eagles held off the Trojans 68-53.
Kirkwood opened up a tight game with a big second quarter, outscoring Triton 28-10 to lead 48-27 at halftime. However, the Trojans rallied within nine points late in the third before the Eagles hit consecutive threes to go back up by 15.
Smith led Triton with 18 points and six rebounds. Branch had 12 points and Rankin tallied eight points. Sophomore
Lauryn Hunt finished with six points and eight rebounds.
The Trojans will open the home schedule Friday, Nov. 8 with their annual Dan Hull Memorial Classic. Triton will play Jackson College at 7:30 p.m. and then on Sat. Nov. 9, host Lincoln Trail College at 3 p.m.
Follow Triton Athletics on Twitter @TritonTrojans1 or on Instagram @Triton_College_Athletics
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