A back-and-forth contest ended on a three-pointer with 8 seconds left, and TCJ Women's Basketball saw its tremendous run end in the South Region Semifinal agaist the rivaled Bruins of Bob Jones University on Friday. The Eagles got double figures from three different players, but Bob Jones's star player hit a crucial three at the end, and the Bruins won 63-59.

Travesha Giddens scored 13 points to lead the Eagles on 5 for 10 shooting, and as of the close of Friday's game, she leads all of NCCAA Division 2 in field goal percentage at 53.8% from the field. Giddens also hit all three of her foul shots. M'lani Vitela scored 12 with 5 of those points coming at the line; she had TCJ's only three-pointer. Vitela is #13 in freethrow percentage at 77.8% and #16 in three-pointers at 28. Emma Parrish finished with 10 on 4 field goals and 2 free throws. Parrish is #4 in free throw percentge at 83.6 but #2 in both free throws attempted at 128 and made at 107. She is #25 in field goal percentage at 40.7.

The game consisted of 11 ties and 13 lead changes, most coming in the second half. Trinity began the third quarter leading 28-22, but BJU quickly erased that margin, and the Eagles caught fire in the latter portoins of the period. At the end of the third, TCJ led 44-42. 

The fourth quarter saw 4 ties and 5 lead changes with the biggest margin at 4 points with 8 seconds left. Leading 60-59, Bob Jones got a three-pointer from Anna Layne Wylder, her fourth of the game, to seal the win. It was the 62nd three of the season for Wylder, fourth in the nation.

Kirsten Joseph finished with 8 points as did Caroline Smith. Desiree Greene scored 6, and Victoria Broadway added 2. 

South Region Awards

During the South Region banquet on Thursday, four TCJ Eagles were named to the All-South Region roster. Emma Parrish made the All-Region 1st team, and Travesha Giddens and M'lani Vitela made the All-Region 2nd team. Alexandra Perez was named All-Region Freshman. Caroline Smith and Kirsten Joseph received honorbale mention.

[Left to Right: Travesha Giddens, Emma Parrish, M'lani Vitela, and Alexandra Perez]

The Eagles are 14-12 overall and 5-3 in South Region play, not counting Friday's tournament game. They finished the regular season as the nation's #9 team. The Eages will await the possibility of an at-large bid to the NCCAA Division 2 National Championship Tournament.