A battle of two of Indiana’s highest scoring teams lived up to the billing as Tri-West held on for a 71-70 win over University in front of a raucous Senior Night crowd at The U Center.
Senior Jhordan McGuire bulled her way to a season-high 27 points to pace the Trailblazers. Senior Jenna Blakley had 12 and juniors Lindsey Syrek (12) and Maddi Sears (11) also reached double figures for University. Syrek just missed her third triple-double of the week, pulling down 13 rebounds and blocking eight shots.
University trailed 64-55 with 3:30 left in the game before mounting a furious comeback that came up just short. Syrek scored with 3:17 left and after a defensive stop by the Blazers, Sears drilled a three pointer from the top of the key to bring University within 64-60 with 2:32 left. A pair of Tri-West free throws restored a six point lead before McGuire was fouled going to the basket. After making her seventh free throw of the night, McGuire missed her first of the night, but the Blazers controlled the rebound. Blakley was fouled and made both free throws with 1:51 left to get University within 63-66.
Tri-West missed the front end of a one-and-one with 1:13 left. Blakley’s three point attempt with a minute remaining rimmed out. The Bruins made both ends of a one-and-one before Sears drilled another three pointer with 33 seconds left to get University within 68-66. The Blazers quickly fouled Tri-West senior Maggie Cora with 30 seconds and the Bruins’ leading scorer made both foul shots.
McGuire scored with 27 seconds left to cut the lead to 70-68. Carli Wilson made the first of two free throws with 12 seconds left for a 71-68 lead, but missed the second. McGuire corralled the rebound and went coast to coast for lay-in with 3.9 seconds remaining and University used their last time out. The Bruins inbounded the ball on a deep pass and ran out the clock.
The first quarter was a see-saw affair with the Bruins leading 19-16 at the end of opening period. The second quarter was a period of runs. University scored the first eight points of the quarter. McGuire found Haley Tomlinson for an easy basket. McGuire made two foul shots, Blakley scored and Syrek made two free throws and University led 24-19. After a Tri-West three pointer, baskets by McGuire and Syrek gave University their largest lead at 28-22.
Tri-West started a decisive 15-2 run to close the half but hitting three consecutive three pointers and a 31-28 lead. Blaklely’s three tied the game before another Tri-West three pointer with 57 seconds left in the half gave the Bruins the lead for good. Tri-West led 37-31 at the break and stretched their lead to 54-46 after three quarters
Cora led Tri-West with 23 points while freshman Kenna Kirby had 19 and Wilson added 15. Kirby made five of Tri-West’s 10 three pointers.
University played without senior point guard Brooke Andrus, out with an injury.
The Class 1A third-ranked Trailblazers end the regular season at 19-2 and will play in Sectional 58 at Bethesda Christian in two weeks. The state tournament draw will be held Sunday.
Tri-West improved to 15-5.
Turn to Page 8 for a boxscore.
Tri-West 71, University 70
University FG FT TP PF
Lindsey Syrek 5 2-3 12 3
Lily Snyder 1 0-0 2 4
Maddi Sears 4 0-0 11 1
Jhordan McGuire 10 7-8 27 4
Lucy Snyder 2 0-0 4 2
Haley Tomlison 1 0-0 2 0
Hallie Harrison 0 0-0 0 1
Jenna Blakley 4 2-2 12 2
Totals 27 11-13 70 17
Score by Quarters
Tri-West 19 18 17 17 – 71
University 16 15 15 24 – 70
University 3-pointers (5) Sears 3, Blakley 2.