Trinity steps it up late, tops Bandits

Updated: March 22, 2011 4:52PM

Trinity played like it was in the dark for nearly three quarters

Saturday afternoon before flipping a switch for a 58-38 victory over

host Resurrection in the GCAC Red opener for both teams.

"There was some nervousness and excitement for this game," said

6-foot-1 junior Megan Podkowa, who scored 13 of her 16 in the second

half. "We didn't know how it was going to be. But we brought it all

together."

The Blazers (7-1) won for the fourth time in a row after losing to

Bartlett on Nov. 23. The loss evened the Bandits at 4-4.

Resurrection, which features three Trinity transfers in Kelly

Barzowski, Sam Ruehl and Annie Larsen, only trailed the Blazers by one at

the half after layups by Larsen and Jessica Szewczyk in the final 41

seconds.

The teams traded leads to start the third quarter, but Podkowa's

three-pointer gave the Blazers the edge at 24-22. Annie Stauffer's

three left the score 28-27 with 3:30 remaining in the third quarter,

but the Bandits were outscored 30-11 the rest of the game.

Trinity's 10-0 run midway through the fourth sealed the road win.

"The girls did a great job of controlling the offense and the tempo

for three quarters," Resurrection coach Keith Miniscalco said. "Then,

it got away from us.

"Trinity's a solid team with solid players. We had to be able to

control the tempo. I told the girls that the best defense is to run a

good offense. We just couldn't sustain it for four quarters."

Gracie Sanchez scored 10 for the Blazers, while the Bandits were led

by Larsen's 10 points.

Trinity plays Regina on Monday, while Resurrection takes on Loyola on

Tuesday. Both are conference games.

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