Palos Heights, Ill. - Down 18 points with 5:05 remaining in the game, Trinity Christian College women's basketball (12-11, 7-10 CCAC) didn't quit. The Trolls went on a quick 8-0 run to cut the lead to 10, but University of St. Francis (Ill.)(20-6, 17-2 CCAC) showed why they are tied for first place in the CCAC with a 72-58 victory. The Trolls were led by another tremendous performance by senior Gabby Kreykes. She scored 19 points and hauled in nine rebounds.

The St. Francis attack was led by senior Jordan Pyle. She led all scorers with 27 points and six assists. 

At the end of the first quarter, the Trinity offense struggled to get going. They shot only 38.5% from the field in the first quarter and trailed 17-11. The biggest difference in the game came in the second quarter. The Saints outscored the Trolls 16-6, and it was a 3-for-6 mark from beyond the three-point line for St. Francis. Senior Summer Cramer  caught fire in the third quarter. She scored 13 points for the game and 10 of those points came in the third. 

As the Trolls made their 8-0 run in the fourth quarter, Kreykes scored six of those eight, but the Trolls couldn't get over the hump. 

NOTES & NUMBERS: 

• Kreykes put herself into the conversation for CCAC Player of the Week with her Saturday performance. In three games, she averaged 22 points per game. She's now scored in double-figures in her last five games. 
• Freshman Faith Davis scored 12 points. All 12 came from behind the three-point line. She went 4-for-8.
• The Trolls went 8-for-10 from the free-throw line.
• Trinity Christian College shot just 29% from the field during three games this week. 

UP NEXT: The Trolls will head back on the road for another week of three games. They take on St. Ambrose University (23-2, 16-2 CCAC) Monday, Feb. 7, in Davenport, Iowa at 5:30 p.m. Last time the two teams met came on Nov. 20. The Trolls fell just short 82-78.