Second-Half Cougar Comeback Spoils Taylor’s Upset Bid

UPLAND, Ind. – The Taylor women's basketball team limited the Saint Francis Cougars to 26 first-half points but could not hold the NAIA's 10th-ranked team down in a 71-60 defeat Saturday afternoon inside Odle Arena.

As has been the norm the past four games, TU got out to a hot start offensively by sharing the ball and staying shot-ready from beyond the arc. Emma Fohl knocked down two triples in the first quarter, while fellow guards Ava Henson and Kendall Wayne both added a three-pointer in a competitive opening 10 minutes, 17-all.

The teams continued to trade punches early in the second period, when a three-pointer by No. 10 USF (18-2, 8-2 CL) gave the visitors a 24-21 lead at the 7:38 mark of the frame.

A minute later, Henson brought the Trojans back within one on a give-and-go backdoor layup, assisted skillfully on the bounce by Whitney Warfel. That started a 12-2 run for the duration of the half as Fohl was aggressive getting to the foul line and Taylor put the clamps down defensively, forcing six turnovers during that stretch to take a 33-26 lead into the intermission.

By halftime, TU had forced nine turnovers, had outrebounded the Cougars 15-14 and had generated a nine-point advantage at the three-point line and a six-point advantage at the charity stripe. Individually, Fohl was 6-for-6 on free throws and had tied her career-high of 12 points.

The Trojans came out of the break aggressively with Wayne hitting a layup, Quinn Kelly blocking a shot and Wayne hitting a transition trey in the corner in the span of 30 seconds. A Warfel free throw on the next TU possession gave Taylor its largest lead of the game, 39-29, with 7:21 still to play in the third quarter.

Saint Francis then connected on a three-pointer and intensified their activity levels all over the court. The Cougars also found the range as they sprinted to a 52-46 edge going into the fourth period.

USF continued to increase its lead as shots stopped falling for the Purple and Grey, and the upset bid for Taylor fell short.

Fohl led the Trojans with a career-high 14 points, followed by 13, 12 and 11 in the scoring column by Kelly, Wayne and Henson, respectively. Henson had a team-high four assists, though all five TU starters had at least one dime.

Defensively, Kelly had two steals and two blocks, while Warfel also notched a block on the day 

Kendall Sietsema scored a season-high nine points off the bench, including splashing home both of her three-point attempts in 15 minutes of action.

The Trojans (6-14, 1-9 CL) take to the road Wednesday, Jan. 29, to play Mount Vernon Nazarene (12-8, 4-6) at 5 p.m.