Linzy comes up big for Trinity

Updated: March 23, 2011 9:42AM

TaRicka Linzy proved you don't need pre-game warmups to lead your team

in scoring.

Trinity's senior guard missed nearly the entire first quarter of

Thursday night's game against visiting St. Joseph, but it didn't seem

to matter. Linzy was one of three Blazers to score 13 points each in a

63-46 victory over the Chargers.

Linzy entered the game with 1:30 remaining in the first quarter and

made her only shot in the quarter. Linzy missed the beginning of the

game after attending a college seminar with her parents, Ricky and

Niessie, at St. Xavier University on Chicago's South Side. Linzy left

the seminar early, around 6 p.m., and reached Trinity with four

minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Linzy changed into her uniform in the car.

"I was very cold on the bench," Linzy said. "I did some stretching on

the sidelines."

It was the first time Linzy was unable to start since early in the

season when she came off the bench while recovering from a right knee

injury before the season.

Trinity coach Ed Stritzel gave permission to Linzy to attend the

seminar and even suggested that Linzy bring her uniform to change.

Megan Podkowa and Taylor Nazon, who made all seven of her free throw

attempts, also scored 13 points each for the eighth-ranked Blazers

(19-3, 6-1), who have won 10 of their last 11 games.

Coupled with Loyola's loss to Mother McAuley, Loyola and Trinity are

tied for first in the GCAC Red, but Loyola will likely received the

top seed in the conference tournament due to its victory over Trinity

last month.

"I like where we're headed," Stritzel said. "Our goal is the state

championship. If we play well, we'll be a tough out for someone to

beat."

St. Joseph (13-8, 4-3), which dropped to 4-6 since starting point

guard Arriel Anderson suffered a season-ending ACL injury, received

another injury scare when starter Deja Horn had to be carried off the

court after the game was over.

Horn injured a toe in her left foot while scoring the game's final

points. She scored on a layup with 23.3 seconds remaining and was

fouled, but did not convert the free throw.

Briya Wilborn scored a game-high 18 points, but fouled out with 29.2

second remaining.

The two teams had complete differently outcomes at the foul line.

Trinity shot 17 of 20 while St. Joseph was 6 of 18.

"I told them we have to hit free throws and layups," St. Joseph coach

Jim Maley said. "I figure we missed a ton of free throws. That's a lot

against a good team and that's a very good team, Trinity."

St. Joseph cut Trinity's lead to 30-26 on three consecutive baskets by

Wilborn in the second quarter, but the Chargers shot only 1 of 10 from

the floor in the third quarter. The Blazers led 47-30 after three

quarters.

St. Joseph's only basket in the quarter was a baseline layup by Donna

Koerber (seven points).

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