Podkowa powers Trinity past Hillcrest

Updated: March 23, 2011 9:52AM

Trinity junior Megan Podkowa said that the Blazers 'definitely talked' about last year's narrow loss at Hillcrest.

This time, the No. 8 Blazers came out smoking and rolled to a 73-55 victory Saturday in River Forest.

Trinity (16-3) went up by 20 midway through the second quarter and it never got closer until the final seconds as Podkowa finished with 25 points, nine rebounds and four steals.

"We came out and all of our shots were falling," Podkowa said. "We talked about losing to them before the the game, but to have a game like we did against a team like that, all of us were taken back a little."

Podkowa had plenty of help as Alyssa Dengler scored 12, Taricka Linzy (career-high 11 assists) and Taylor Nazon scored 10 and Victoria Harris added nine points. Shannon McGinnis had 11 rebounds, while Dawn Butler left for the hospital in the first half after possibly breaking her nose.

"I think our chemistry is better since our loss to Loyola [just before Christmas]," Trinity coach Ed Stritzel said. "When Dawn went to the hospital, we were without our captain. The one thing I have to say something about is the composure of Taylor Nazon. She was our unsung hero with 10 points and only three turnovers against all kinds of pressure from Hillcrest. When [injured point guard] Divinity Brown gets back, she can return to the off guard."

The Blazers were 18-for-32 shooting in the first half (56 percent).

"We want to be where the best competition is," Stritzel said. "We know that Hillcrest will cone at you and we spent two weeks on handling zones. All the girls made the extra pass and they are gaining confidence."

For the No. 9 Hawks (14-2), Shamirah Ali scored 20 points. Yolanda De La Torre scored three points but pulled down 16 rebounds.

"They got off to a fast start, and we were ice cold, like the gym," Hillcrest coach John Maniatis said. "We'll grow from this experience.

"That is a very talented team and Podkowa is one of the best players in the Chicago area."

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