Perhaps the worst half of basketball played all season by the Triton College women's basketball team doomed their chances of advancing deeper into the postseason in a 79-70 loss to Malcolm X College on Saturday, March 9 in the Region 4 Division championship game at Highland Community College in Freeport, Ill.
Although they recovered somewhat in the second half, the initial 20-minute stretch in which the Trojans shot 9-for-33 (27 %) – including 0-for-9 in three-point attempts – and were just 11-or-18 from the free-throw line was too much to overcome. The Lady Hawks led by as much as 22 points midway through the first half and held a 44-29 halftime edge
After Triton had cut the deficit under 10 in the third quarter, Malcolm X held a 66-50 lead with eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter. Triton eventually crept to within five points on four different occasions in the final 2 minutes, but could get no closer. For the entire game, Triton hit just one three-pointer in 16 attempts.
"I think they were a little nervous," Triton coach
Drew Winston said of his players. "We played this team twice before this season, but not at this level (in a title game). I think they ran out of gas. We had to switch to man-to-man defense and it took a lot out of us."
In snapping a 10-game losing streak to Triton, Malcolm X (16-10) did not pull as big of an upset as might be viewed on face value against 23-8 Triton.
The Lady Hawks had won four in a row, including a convincing victory against No. 2 seed Sauk Valley in the semifinals. Malcolm X also had blowout wins against Highland to end the regular season and Kennedy-King College in their tournament opener. And they were led by center Laura Rivera, leading NJCAA Division I with 18.3 rebounds per game who got going early.
Rivera had 14 rebounds in the first half alone as Triton's inside game vanished along with its cold outside shooting. Top Trojan "big"
Jordyn Coleman, ranked third in the nation in rebounding could only respond with six first-half rebounds. Like her teammates, Coleman played better in the second half, finishing with 19 points and 13 rebounds to earn a spot on the all-tournament team.
"I did see growth in Jordyn, especially in the second half of the season and she'll be key piece for us next year," Winston said. "I plan to put some help around her."
Some of the projected help for 2024-25 will be needed to replace all-time Trojans scorer
Trinity Barnes in the backcourt. After a 24-point outing against Malcolm X, Barnes finished her Triton career with a record-breaking 1,121 points. Barnes had back-to-back 29-point performances going into the title game and was also an all-tournament team selection.
She is now entertaining four-year college offers. Winston sees only improvement in Barnes' competitive future.
"I didn't recruit Trinity and appreciate her staying when I took over (for Marques Hatch) Gary, Ind., product. "She did so many things that made our team better. She led us in scoring, but also became the main focus as the voice in the locker room.
"She's instant offense. She can score on three levels. Any collegiate-level offense can use her. She can really extend the floor."
Freshman
Lauryn Hunt, who will be another key part of the Trojans plans next season finished with 10 points and 15 rebounds.
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(Story by tritonathletics.com contributor George Castle)
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