Trinity Episcopal fells No. 10 Collegiate

The Collegiate Cougars girls basketball team has pulled out close-game victories four times this season.

The Trinity Episcopal Titans turned the tables on the visiting Cougars, ranked No. 10 in The Times-Dispatch Top 10, last night.

Trinity Episcopal rallied from an eight-point deficit at halftime, took the lead on a pair of free throws by Jennifer Smith with 57 seconds remaining and came away with a 42-38 League of Independent Schools victory. The loss was Collegiate's first.

"They did a great job of using their strengths," Cougars coach Rives Fleming said of the Titans, who picked up their first LIS victory. "They took it from us as opposed to us giving it to them."

The teams were tied at the end of the first eight minutes, but the Titans managed just one field goal and two free throws in the second quarter.

The discussion in the Titans' locker room at halftime didn't focus on the lack of offensive production.

"We asked the kids to step up their defense," coach Becky Currier said. "Keep the tenacity going, keep shooting, keep playing and see what happens."

Trinity guards Jordan and Jillian Brown and Christine Archuleta used their quick hands and aggressive pressure to hound Collegiate into 14 turnovers in the second half.

"We made them commit a lot of turnovers, and we converted," Jordan Brown said. "Once we pressured them, they couldn't make the pass inside and Dominque [Meeks] couldn't score."

Meeks scored 10 of her game-high 15 points in the first half, but Smith limited Meeks' touches after the break and "wouldn't let her turn like she wanted," Brown said.

The Cougars contributed to their demise by missing numerous layups all game and down the stretch when they got by the pressure. They were a measly 8 for 22 at the foul line.

Meanwhile, the Browns (Jillian finished with 14 points) and Archuleta combined for 23 of Trinity's 29 second-half points. The Titans were 14 for 25 from the line in the last two quarters.

Said Fleming, "We had some great chances, but they deserve credit for making plays to win at the end."

Contact Arthur Utley at (804) 649-6559 or .

COLLEGIATE (3-1 LIS, 11-1)

Donahue 2, Koonce 0, Meeks 15, Flinn 2, T. Thomas 0, Edwards 5, Robinson 5, C. Thomas 9. Totals 15 8-22 38.
TRINITY EPISCOPAL (1-3, 10-5)

Marget 1, Jacobsen 0, V. Smith 5, Dunbar 0, J. Smith 2, Ji. Brown 14, Jo. Brown 9, Archuleta 9, Addison 2, Henley 0. Totals 12 16-27 42.
Collegiate ------------------------- 9 12 11 6 - 38
Trinity Episcopal ------------------------- 9 4 15 14 - 42

3-point goals: TE - Ji. Brown 2.