Taylor Dominates on Road in Victory over No. 18 Saint Francis
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FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Trojans notched their 11th-straight win on Saturday, marking the program’s longest streak since the 2004-2005 campaign. The team extended the run of success by taking down the 18th-ranked Cougars by a 74-58 margin.
Taylor (19-4, 10-2 CL) stifled the Saint Francis (16-8, 8-4 CL) attack from the tip, holding the hosts to nine points in the first quarter. Four different Trojans contributed to a 10-point run in the initial stanza to propel TU to a lead for the rest of the contest.
Kendall Bradbury was a force to be reckoned with in the second quarter, pouring in 12 points through 10 minutes of action. The senior forward finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds, notching her 11th double-double of the season and the 46th of her career. Bradbury also added two steals and a block on the defensive end.
The Cougars put together a comeback effort in the third period, cutting their deficit from 11 to three points over the first six minutes of the quarter. The Trojans responded with another 10-point rally, knocking down six free throws in as many attempts during the run.
TU continued to push its advantage in the final quarter, finding its largest lead at 21 points before settling for the 16-point victory. The double-digit win marked the sixth such rout within the team’s 11-game winning streak.
During the 2018-2019 season, Taylor has posted seven wins and two losses against top-25 teams with both losses coming in overtime. Defeating No. 18 Saint Francis, helped TU match a record set last year of beating seven ranked opponents in one season.
Taylor’s offense was extremely efficient on Saturday, shooting 28-of-47 from the floor, converting at a 59.6 percent clip. Abby Buchs played a major role in the team’s efficiency, draining five shots on seven attempts for 13 points.
Landing in double-digits for the third time in her last four games, Aubrey Wright tallied 11 points on three triples and two free throws, while adding four rebounds and four steals. Becca Buchs was also a key cog in the offense, contributing a career-high five assists to go with her 13 points.
The ninth-ranked Trojans will return to Odle Arena, as they take on RV Huntington (14-9, 7-5 CL) on Wednesday at 7:00 pm.