JOLIET, Ill. --- Another fast start and a near record 23 rebounds from Andriana Acosta propelled the University of St. Francis women's basketball team to a 69-55 victory over Trinity Christian College at the Sullivan Center on Wednesday night. The meeting was a matchup of Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference unbeaten with both teams coming into the contest at 3-0 in league play.

Aided by a 17-8 first quarter, including a 5-0 burst at the start, head coach John McGinty's club led from start to finish. That lead swelled to as high as 20 points in the second quarter before the Saints (6-1, 4-0 CCAC) would settle for a 39-22 advantage at the break.

Trinity Christian's only win came in the third quarter when the Trolls outscored the Saints 21-11 to pull within seven points at the stop, 50-43.  TCC (7-2, 3-1) had its best shooting mark in that quarter (8-of-17, .471), while St. Francis suffered its worse connection rate (4-of-18, .222).

Braxtin Mickens would dash Trinity Christian's hopes of continuing its resurgence in the fourth quarter when she hit a three pointer and then followed up with a layup to get the Saints back up by 12 points. From there, the lead would never slip below 11 points.

Acosta continued her double-double frenzy (five in seven games) with 16 points and the previously-mentioned 23 rebounds. That effort fell just one carom short of tying the single-season mark of 24 set by Katie Gonnering versus Olivet Nazarene back on Nov. 26, 2013. Acosta also secured three steals and notched one block.

She was one of four Saints to deliver at least ten points to the scoring column. Jorja Bolton netted 16 points to go along with eight rebounds, while Shadrian McDaniel totaled 13 points and Mickens 10. Kalyn Sias-Chaney added six points and a game-high six assists. 

Trinity Christian was led by Gabby Kreykes – last week's CCAC Player of the Week – who registered a double-double of her own with 18 points and 13 rebounds.

Both teams turned in similar shooting numbers, hovering around 37 percent, while the Saints again won the rebound battle, 50-35.

Up Next
The Saints head to Dubuque, Iowa to face NAIA No.18 ranked Clarke University in a 3 pm non-conference affair. The Saints are just on the outside of the poll being among others receiving votes.

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