PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. --- A pair of 11-2 runs and Jordan Pyle's (JR/Traralgon, Australia) first double-double of the season enabled the University of St. Francis women's basketball team to overcome a shaky offensive night and gain a 48-38 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory over Trinity Christian College on Tuesday. The win extended USF's winning streak to nine games and allowed the Saints to open their league season on the right foot.
Both offenses actually struggled on the night with the two teams combining to muster up just 36 points through the first 20 minutes of play with USF taking a 21-15 lead into the break. The Saints (11-1, 1-0 CCAC) used an 11-2 run to close out the second quarter and take the six-point edge into the intermission.
The same held true in the game's closing quarter. After leading by as many as 13 points – 32-19 – the Saints saw their advantage dip to six points just moments into the fourth quarter before going on the their second 11-2 burst. That gave USF its highest lead of the evening at 48-33 before the hosts closed out the night with the game's final five points.
Trinity Christian, which tallied just nine points over the final 18:36 of the opening half after jumping out to an initial 6-0 lead, finished the game recording just 12 field goals in 40 attempts (30 percent), while St. Francis took 20 more shots, converting 19 times (31.7 percent). Both teams particularly struggled from long range, where they combined to go 6 for 44 (13.6 percent).
The Trolls (2-3, 0-3) also managed to score no more than 12 points in any one quarter. St. Francis' defense was one big reason for those low numbers, forcing 22 turnovers with 16 steals.
Leah Sims (SR/Chicago, Ill.) led the way for the Saints with 13 points and seven of those steals. Pyle was next in line with one of the best all-around games for her this season. Besides the double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds), she also contributed four steals and three assists.
Andriana Acosta (SR/Crest Hill, Ill.) added another 11 points and eight rebounds.
Trinity Christian's Gabby Kreykes led all scorers and rebounders on the night with her 18 points and 12 boards.
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Up Next
USF's scheduled game against Judson University on Saturday has been postponed due to COVID concerns, leaving the Saints with the next seven days off before hosting St. Ambrose University next Wednesday at 5 pm. in another CCAC affair.
