Third quarter surge propels Trojans past Malcolm X

Sparked by a 29-9 third quarter, the Triton College women's basketball team exacted some revenge on postseason tormentor Malcolm X College in a 73-52 victory Dec. 12 at the Jorndt Athletic Complex gymnasium.

With memories of the Hawks' 79-70 knockout blow in the Region 4 championship game last March still fresh on the minds of Trojans sophomores, the two teams battled in a competitive first half with Triton leading 33-28. But the Trojans (10-3) scored the first seven points of the third quarter, pushed the lead to 25 points at the end of the quarter and cruised to the victory.

The stats suggested an offensive surge was responsible. But Trojans coach Drew Winston credited good old-fashioned defense for the third-quarter separation.

"We put pride behind our defense," he said. "Once we settled down and played regular defense and not hero defense. I think that was the difference in the second half."

Motivation was hardly the issue after sophomores such as Jordyn Coleman and Lauryn Hunt debriefed freshman newcomers about Malcolm X's postseason dream-killing on March 9 at Highland Community College in Freeport, Ill.

The Kim McQuarter-coached Hawks had just gotten hot going into the playoffs, and used that momentum to upset the favored Trojans, whose late-game rallies fell short.

"My sophomores definitely had the game circled and made the newcomers understand," Winston said.

Reserve guard Mariah Phelps applied the dagger to the Hawks with a three-pointer with just more than three minutes to go to give the Trojans a 52-32 lead. Phelps nailed another trey for her six-point game total, adding four assists to her workload.

Guard Jada Branch led Triton with 14 points and eight steals. "Bigs" Coleman and Hunt also had well-rounded games. Coleman finished with 13 points, 13 rebounds and six blocked shots. Meanwhile, Hunt tallied 11 points and eight rebounds. Guard Jayla Rankin added 13 points and four assists.

Malcolm X (3-6) fell for the fifth straight game after a 3-1 start. However, the Hawks plagued by some early-season injuries look to be at full-strength when they meet the Trojans again on the West Side Feb. 20.
 
"They're a good program," said Winston. "I love Kim. She's a good coach and will have her team ready when we see them again at their place."

Triton is enjoying another good season start. The Malcolm X triumph came two days after a 107-21 victory over Chicago's Wright College. But any celebration is way premature.

"We are kind of even keel on that. We got a lot of work to do," said Winston.

The Trojans play one more game before the holiday break, on the road Dec. 17 at Madison College in Wisconsin. The season resumes January 9 at Milwaukee Area Tech. The next home game for Triton is not until Jan. 28 against the reserves from Elmhurst University.

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(Story by tritonathletics.com contributor George Castle)