West Massachusetts News

Trinity Defense Triumphs, Ephs Defeated In Semifinal Round

The Trinity (21-4, 7-3 NESCAC) defense, led by Reilly Campbell with 4 steals and 3 blocks, held Williams (18-8, 8-2 NESCAC) scoreless from 4:09 in the second quarter to 7:32 in the third, and kept the Ephs to just 3 points in the third quarter. Though the Ephs played solidly throughout the first half and for most of the fourth, the lead Trinity built in the third proved to be insurmountable, and the Bantams won 60-42. 

At 5:20 left in the second, the score was 22-22— Arianna Gerig had just driven from left to right and finished a layup off the glass. On the other end, the Bantams' Emma Wax dished it to Theresa Twardosky, who pulled up from behind the arc to take a three point lead. The game had stayed neck and neck for quite some time, with three ties and two lead changes in the second quarter so far. Ryann Taylor responded to Twardosky's three on the very next play, driving into the paint and scoring a short hook despite contact. Her free throw tied the game again, 25 all. 

The play was impressive, but it didn't stand out in the context of the game— most watching could have reasonably concluded that the game would stay tight until the final buzzer. However, after Taylor's free throw, something seemed to click for Trinity on both ends. For the final four minutes in the half, five Bantams scored to send Trinity on a 12-0 run. In the third, the Ephs were unable to generate much momentum and couldn't catch up to the Bantams despite improved play in the fourth. 

"That one stretch did us in," said Eph head coach Pat Manning of Trinity's scoring run in the second and third. "It was us trying to do too much in one play. When you're down like that, you're trying to come back, but what you have to realize is that it's one play at a time— you can't get it all back in one play. We weren't as patient as we needed to be to work back. I think we were taking some shots too early in the shot clock, and that allowed them to go on a run. We shot 1-14 in the third quarter, 7%. It's hard to have a good comeback when you're shooting 1-14." 

At the game's start, the Bantams' Hannah Marzo scored right away with a driving layup. Despite shot attempts from Devin Biesbrock and Arianna Gerig, Trinity went up 6-0 in a manner reminiscent of their 10-0 start the last time these two teams faced off. However, after a Trinity turnover, Cortland McBarron drove from the right baseline into the paint, throwing up a floater through contact to get the Ephs on the board. 

Scoring opened up after McBarron's bucket, and the Ephs soon found themselves within one after a three from Devin Biesbrock. In response, Marzo, who averages just under five points a game, splashed a three for her nine point in the first quarter. Reilly Campbell, the Bantams' leading scorer, put up six points in the quarter, but Gerig and Maddy Mandyck added on 4 and 2 respectively to keep the Ephs close. 

In the second, Mandyck started right where she'd left off with a layup on Williams' first possession. Then, Mia Holtze sank a three to give the Ephs the lead for the first time all game. Campbell tied it up with a putback, and Trinity's Emma Wax took the lead back with a layup. Two more points apiece for both teams and Gerig's layup takes us back to 5:20. 

After the Bantams' 12-0 run, the Ephs came into the third quarter looking to turn things around. Though Trinity soon made it 14-0 with a jumper at the elbow, a layup for Cortland McBarron, assisted by Gerig, broke the streak. It seemed as if the Ephs' troubles were over, but they couldn't get much going for the rest of the quarter, as their shots went in and out. Williams shot 1-14 in the third, and Gerig added on just one more point from the free throw line. 

The Ephs turned it around in the fourth, going on a 10-0 run from 5:32-1:39, but it was too little too late. Devin Biesbrock would score the last points of the game at 1:28, and the game ended 60-42. Maddy Mandyck led the Ephs with a 14-10 double-double, and Reilly Campbell had 12 and 13. Hannah Marzo led the Bantams in scoring (15pts), while Arianna Gerig added on 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks. 

Original source can be found here