Rematch from 2016 goes to Trinity in NCAA Second Round

RICHARDSON, Texas – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's basketball team's run in the NCAA Tournament came to an end in the Round of 32 with the 77-66 loss to Trinity (Tex.). Up against the team that CMS knocked out of the tournament last season, the Athenas knew it would be a fight to the end, and they did just that.

The six seniors – Kris Brackmann (CMC), Claire Donnelly (CMC), Jai Dungca (CMC), Quinn Glosniak (CMC), Shaina Van Stryk (SC), and Aly Young (CMC) – end their careers as Athenas tonight with an overall record of 90-23.

The first quarter was a fast-paced affair as Trinity put up 26 points to the Athenas' 18. Brackman scored CMS' first basket with a step through layup. The Tigers brought pressure in the backcourt, forcing the Athenas to move quickly to get to half court. Sophomore Kiki Yang (CMC) and Glosniak were successful breaking through and found junior Kailee Severt (CMC) for a quick layup to trail 11-8. By that point in the game, Glosniak already had three assists on the night.

The teams traded 3-point baskets midway through the quarter with shots by Monica Holguin, and then Severt. Then, Donnelly dished to junior Corinne Bogle (CMC) for a short jumper in the paint to come within four at 21-17.

In freshman Maya Love's (CMC) three minutes in the first quarter, she aggressively grabbed an offensive and defensive board and then was fouled going back up for a shot. At the end of the first period, Severt led the Athenas with seven points while Trinity had spread their scoring around, with each starter recording at least a basket.

Brackmann and Donnelly worked in tandem as the center bounced a pass right to Brackmann's hands under the hoop for the first bucket of the second quarter. Dungca flew through the air for a steal at 7:45 and then hit a solo jumper within seconds to begin to close the gap.

Love and Young hustled on both sides of the ball for the remainder of the quarter. They led the charge for CMS' shutdown defense and then put in a few points of their own. The last basket Trinity would score in the half was with 7:30 on the clock. In consecutive possessions, Love was fouled taking a shot and converted all four free throws. With a minute left in the second quarter, Love made a block and Young picked up the defensive rebound. Then, Young finished up the half with a three point play to bring CMS within three points at 38-35.

Early in the very physical second half, Brackmann tied up the game with a 3-pointer from the corner. The Athenas took their first lead of the day with a layup by Glosniak but then Trinity came right back with a pair of layups by the Tigers' go-to shooters: Holguin and Micah Weaver.

Each team made defensive stops as the quarter wound down. Two late fouls by CMS put the Tigers on the line and then Trinity took the four-point lead on a layup at the buzzer, 55-51.

Each time the Athenas made a basket in the fourth quarter, it seemed Trinity answered with one or two of their own. The Tigers put up 22 points in the quarter and was able to pull the game out of reach at the end. With the game and the season on the line, untimely turnovers plagued CMS. Nonetheless, the Athenas out-rebounded the Tigers in the quarter but were unable to get back on top.

To close, head coach Kristen Dowling commended the team's effort: "I'm proud of our young women and they battled incredibly hard until the end." When asked about what being in the national tournament means for a student-athlete, Young says, "We're all so humbled and there's nothing that brings us together than making it this far." Watch the post game interview.

Box Score

By Emily Nordhoff
Sports Information Director

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