Big First Half Propels No. 15 Taylor to Home Win
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UPLAND, Ind. – The Trojans outscored the Cornerstone Eagles 46-23 through the first two quarters, helping the team to a 76-67 triumph in Odle Arena. The Friday victory marked the 19th-straight regular season win for TU.
Cornerstone (1-4) opened the game with a three-pointer before Taylor pulled off an 18-point run over the next four and half minutes of action. Through the rally, TU forced three turnovers from the visitors, resulting in three steals for Merideth Deckard.
Deckard posted an impressive stat line on Friday, notching or matching career-highs with 18 points, five rebounds, six assists, five steals and five treys. On the season, the sophomore has shot 55.3 percent from beyond the arc, while sinking eight total threes between both contests.
Two big rallies pushed the TU advantage to 23 at the end of the second quarter. Three-consecutive long balls increased the team’s lead to 16 with four and a half minutes remaining in the half. The Trojans entered the break fresh off a 12-0 streak, holding the visiting Eagles scoreless through the final three and half minutes of the second quarter.
The Purple and Gold nabbed its highest lead of 25 points in the third quarter but ultimately went even, as the two teams scored 15 apiece. CU attempted a comeback in the final 10 minutes of action but six points from Deckard and Madisyn Fischer in the fourth period secured the TU win.
Four Trojans netted double-digit points in the outing including Deckard, Fischer, Sydney Huffman and Becca Buchs. Huffman posted a career-high 17 points on 50.0 percent shooting from the floor, adding three rebounds and three assists.
Fischer put together a stellar performance in her first career start, recording her first double-double with a personal-best 14 points and 11 rebounds. The junior also nabbed three assists, four field goals and two three pointers for career-highs.
A 20 point and 15 rebound effort from Buchs extended her double-digit scoring streak to 18 games, while logging her second-straight double-double performance.
Freshman, Ariel Dale, made her collegiate debut on Friday, grabbing six rebounds and one steal in 12 minutes of action.
No. 15 Taylor will finish its three-game homestand on Wednesday, battling Madonna (1-1) at 6:00 pm.