Amanda Baylock scored a career-high 27 points as the TCNJ women’s basketball team nearly upset No. 11 Trinity (Conn.), but ultimately fell 79-73 in Hartford on Friday night.
The Lions, now 0-2 for the season, started strong with a 6-0 run and ended the first quarter leading 25-12. Baylock hit three early three-pointers to help build that advantage. Despite Trinity narrowing the gap to eight points several times in the second quarter, TCNJ responded with a 10-0 run led by Katie Fricker, pushing their lead to as much as 39-21. Baylock’s next three-pointer extended it further to 42-23 before halftime, where TCNJ led by 17.
Early in the third quarter, two free throws from Fricker and a basket from Maddie Bernhardt gave TCNJ its largest lead at 46-25. The Lions still held a significant advantage at 57-43 after another three-pointer from Fricker late in the third period.
Trinity then mounted a comeback, scoring eight straight points to close out the third quarter and opening the fourth with a 10-3 run that brought them within one point at 62-61. Although Fricker temporarily halted Trinity’s momentum with a basket assisted by Grace Kowalski, Trinity took its first lead at 67-66 with just over four minutes remaining and went on an extended run to create an eight-point cushion.
Baylock’s sixth three-pointer cut Trinity’s lead to three points at 76-73 late in the game, but Trinity added another free throw and stopped TCNJ’s final possession to secure the win.
Statistically, TCNJ shot just over 38 percent from the field and made ten three-pointers compared to only two for Trinity. However, Trinity dominated rebounding with a margin of more than double (53 rebounds for Trinity versus TCNJ’s 26) and capitalized on second-chance opportunities for twenty points. The Lions forced twenty-one turnovers while committing fifteen themselves.
For Trinity, Avery Marzo led with twenty-five points and ten rebounds. Kiki Fossbender contributed eighteen points while Marlo Simms recorded fifteen points and thirteen rebounds.
Baylock also led her team in assists (five) and steals (three). Fricker finished with seventeen points and seven rebounds. Bernhardt and Kowalski each scored seven; Kowalski also had three steals. Brooke McFadden collected six rebounds along with four points and three assists.
TCNJ will continue its New England road trip Saturday against Rhode Island College.
