Taylor Logs 800th Program Victory, Advances to Semifinals
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UPLAND, Ind. – The Trojans picked up their 18th-straight victory on Tuesday, defeating Spring Arbor by an 80-55 margin. The win marked the program’s 800th all-time win, while helping TU move on to the Crossroads League Tournament Semifinals to host Saint Francis.
Long range shooting got Taylor (26-4, 16-2 CL) going in the first quarter with four different Trojans knocking down a deep ball. An 8-0 run in the first gave TU a lead over Spring Arbor (9-22, 5-13 CL) that would not be vanquished throughout the remainder of the contest.
Free throws made the difference in the second quarter, as TU posted seven points from the line. Other than foul shots, the two teams went even in the stanza with seven field goals and two treys apiece.
The Purple and Gold utilized triples and free throws to stimulate their offense throughout the contest. Out of 24 made field goals, TU drained 15 treys at a 45.5 percent clip. The Upland squad also found its way to the charity stripe often, pouring in 17 free throws compared to just one from Spring Arbor.
Kendall Bradbury was Taylor’s top scorer on the night, finishing with 28 points. The stellar night added to a stretch of strong efforts for the senior, as she is averaging 26.3 points and a 53.5 field goal percentage over the last eight games. Bradbury also contributed on the glass, recording 11 rebounds for her 50th career double-double.
Taylor and Spring Arbor hit big shots in the third period, as the Cougars nabbed six shots from downtown, while the Trojans nailed four.
In the final quarter, TU found four consecutive three pointers to extend its lead to 22 and put away the game for good. Defeating the Cougars by a score of 80-55, Taylor held its opponent to under 70 points for the 12th-straight contest.
Hot shooting continued from Becca Buchs on Tuesday, as the junior recorded six treys and 26 points. Buchs now has 100 threes on the season, while converting on 47.6 percent of her attempts, which ranks first in the NAIA. Logging over 20 points on the night, Buchs recorded her 500th point this season.
Lacey Garrett provided another bright spot for the Trojans, leading the team with a career-high 10 assists.
No. 8 Taylor will return to Odle Arena for the Crossroads League Tournament Semifinals, as the team hosts RV Saint Francis (20-11, 11-7 CL) at 7:00 pm on Friday.