Second-Quarter Run Powers RV Taylor to Victory Against IU East

UPLAND, Ind. – RV Taylor (11-0) extended its winning streak to 11 on Wednesday night after defeating IU East (2-7) by a final score of 74-59 in a physical contest at Odle Arena.

The Trojans were led by four players scoring in double digits, with Kaycie Warfel leading the way with 16 points. Madi Allen scored 13 points with five assists, while Emma Fohl knocked down three treys and finished with 12 points. Marissa Trout chipped in with 11 points and four steals off the bench.

Celina Blount grabbed a team-high nine rebounds with four points, three blocks and two steals, while Quinn Kelly hauled in eight boards with eight points and a pair of assists.

A slow start from both squads ended with the Red Wolves leading 9-8 after the opening 10 minutes of action, as both teams made only two shot attempts and combined to shoot 4 of 23 from the field.

Eventually the Trojans started clicking on offense during the second quarter and never trailed after the nine-minute mark.

Fohl drilled a 3-pointer to give TU a 14-11 lead with 9:01 in the second quarter. The triple sparked a key 15-4 run for the Trojans which spanned the next five-plus minutes of action. Six different Trojans scored during the spurt, which was capped by a Kaycie Warfel steal and layup at the 4:23 mark to force an IU East timeout.

TU remained out in front until halftime and built a 12-point advantage at the intermission break, leading 35-23. The Trojans bounced back from the slow start by shooting 61.1 percent in the second stanza.

Taylor led 40-23 when Fohl made her third trey of the night with 7:38 in the third quarter, but IU East chipped away as the momentum shifted late in the period. The Red Wolves closed the third period on a 10-2 run and trailed by six heading into the final quarter, 50-44.

Kaycie Warfel stopped the IU East momentum with a layup early in the fourth. That bucket sparked an 11-0 run for the Trojans after the Red Wolves trimmed the deficit to four points.

A massive sequence followed as Kelly delivered an offensive putback layup and Fohl converted a three-point play to put the Trojans back in front by double digits, 57-46, with under seven minutes remaining in the game.

With all the momentum back on its side, TU's lead swelled to as much as 18 when a pair of Kaycie Warfel free throws put the Trojans ahead 68-50 late in the contest.

Overall, TU shot 38.1 percent from the field and 26.3 percent from three-point range. The Trojans knocked down 21 of 29 attempts at the free-throw line.

IU East was limited to 36.2-percent shooting and just 2 of 10 (20%) from beyond the arc. The Red Wolves held the slight edge in rebounding, 43-29.

Peyton Wells led the Red Wolves with a game-high 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting.

TU outscored IU East 24-10 in points off turnovers, while forcing 25 miscues by the Red Wolves. The Trojans tied their third-lowest turnover total of the season with 14.

The Trojans will return to action next week with a pair of games in Arizona.

TU will play OUAZ on Tuesday, December 16, before taking on Arizona Christian two days later on Thursday, December 18.

The Trojans return to Odle Arena for a tilt with No. 20 Indiana Tech on Tuesday, December 30.