Linzy's late heroics lift Trinity

Updated: March 23, 2011 9:30AM

TaRicka Linzy knew she had four fouls and figured she'd have one chance.

Linzy's steal and layup with 29 seconds to play lifted host Trinity to a 39-36 victory over Loyola in the GCAC Red championship game Saturday night in River Forest.

"I had four fouls and waited until the last minute and took a chance," Linzy said. "It was exciting and something we wanted after losing in the championship game [to Mother McAuley] last year. I think that Loyola is a really tough team and No. 12 [Katie Faught] is such a great player.

No. 7 Trinity (24-3) took its first lead, 35-34, since early with 4:50 to play on a basket by Linzy (eight points, four assists) and then a reverse by Megan Podkowa (13 points, seven rebounds) put them up three.

Loyola (21-6) got two free throws from Anna Schueler (10 points) to pull within 37-36 and got the ball back after Trinity missed the front end of a one-and-one, but Linzy's steal and a late three-pointer by Faught (10 points) in the final seconds bounced out.

"Our hero was Divinity Brown," Trinity coach Ed Stritzel said. "She's a four-year player who has had two knee surgeries and she guarded Faught with no help. This team has lost two starters and bonded together and I think we'll be tough to beat in the state tournament."

"We wanted our crown back after losing last year," Brown said. "I'm almost 100 percent. In my mind I'm 100 percent, but my leg is maybe 90 percent, but I am going to keep pushing."

After the Blazers took an early 5-4 lead after a three-pointer from Taylor Nazon, the Ramblers took the lead with a 7-0 spurt started by a runner from Faught. Sophomore Anna Schueler followed it with a three-pointer and another Faught basket made it 11-5. After Nazon scored for Trinity. a three-pointer by Nicole Gleason put Loyola up 14-9.

Baskets by Faught and Schueler to close the quarter made it 18-9.

Podkowa got Trinity going with seven points in the second quarter and a three-pointer by Alyssa Dengler tied the game at 21. A basket by Carrie Schoeneberger late in the half sent the Ramblers to the break up 23-21. Faught went to the bench with 3:20 to play in the half after picking up her third foul.

The Blazers closed the third quarter with a 6-0 spurt, getting two baskets from Podkowa and one from Nazon to go to the fourth tied at 29.

In the third-place game, Brenna Nolan scored 19 and Alyssa Siwek 10 to lead McAuley (16-11) to a 57-42 victory over St. Joseph. Octavia Brown scored 14 and Briya Wilborn 12 for the Chargers (15-11).

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