AURORA, Ill. – Three Trolls would finish in double figures, but Trinity would fall in a close matchup at Aurora (Ill.) on Thursday, finishing out 2023 with a 77-65 loss to the Spartans.

Team Leaders

• Hannah Schuringa led Trinity (0-11) with 16 points and a career-high 15 rebounds, recording the team's first double-double of the season.

• Leilani Murray finished with 11 points, five rebounds, and five assists.

• Kirsten Kamolz tallied 11 points and five rebounds.

How it Happened

• Aurora (9-2) connected on five three points in the first six minutes, opening a 19-6 lead by the 4:29 mark of the first quarter.

• Trinity would respond, as Schuringa scored eight straight points to close the gap, as the Trolls trailed by by nine at the end of the first quarter.

• Threes from Kamholz and Sedona Anderson fueled a 9-0 run at the start of the second quarter, as Trinity took a 26-25 lead on Desire Berrien's layup at the 6:35 mark.

• Aurora would respond with a 16-2 run to reclaim the lead, and went into the break leading 43-30.

• The Trolls scored the first nine points of the third quarter, cutting the Spartan lead to 43-39 midway through the period. A three by Murray and a layup at the buzzer from Amena Alexander made it a one-point game going into the fourth, 49-48.

• Aurora went on another run to start the fourth quarter, scoring ten of the next 12 points to build a 59-50 lead with 6:13 to play. The Trolls would pull back to within three points with a couple of trips to the free throw line, but the Spartans would go a perfect 8-for-8 from the stripe to close out the win.

Next Up

• The Trolls return to the court after the new year, when they host Judson on Saturday, January 6 at 1:00 p.m.