Four Trojans Reach Double Figures in 77-66 Win Over MVNU

UPLAND, Ind. – Kaycie Warfel scored 24 points and Madi Allen registered a double-double to lead four players in double digits, as RV Taylor (15-4, 5-4 CL) snapped a four-game losing streak with Saturday's 77-66 victory over Mount Vernon Nazarene inside Odle Arena.

Warfel finished with the game-high total along with four steals, while outdueling MVNU's Lily Shepherd and Kylie Leibacher who each had 22 points. The freshman guard sits only three points shy of 500 on the season.

Shepherd, who entered the contest averaging over 12 points per game, drained five 3-pointers and finished with 19 points at halftime, before the Trojans limited her to just three points the rest of the way.

Allen posted 16 points and 10 rebounds for her second career double-double effort, while Celina Blount just missed a double-double of her own. The sophomore came up a rebound shy with 10 points, nine boards and four blocks.

Emma Fohl tallied 10 points including a pair of crucial 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, along with five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Saturday's balanced scoring attack was the sixth time the Trojan lineup featured four players in double figures this season.

Quinn Kelly dished a team-high four assists with nine points and four boards, while Kendall Sietsema chipped in with five points off the bench.

TU never trailed in the contest, building an early eight-point advantage in the first quarter before extending the lead to nine in the second period. Balanced scoring fueled the Trojans as Warfel (10), Allen (9) and Kelly (9) led the way in the first half.

In the second quarter, MVNU pulled within three before TU answered with a 14-2 run featuring contributions from five different players. The spurt gave the Trojans a 42-33 halftime cushion and came after a TU timeout at the 5:28 mark stopped Shepherd's hot streak from beyond the arc.

The Cougars didn't go quietly and stormed back in the third quarter, outscoring the Trojans 21-12 to erase the deficit and level the score at 54-54 heading into the final period, setting up a decisive fourth quarter.

But the Trojans didn't flinch. TU seized control immediately with a dominant 13-0 run to start the fourth quarter.

Four different players contributed during the key momentum shift, with Fohl drilling a pair of 3-pointers to extend the advantage. Blount opened the scoring with a layup at 9:43, and Fohl's first triple at 8:46 pushed the lead to 59-54. Allen converted a jumper at 7:32, and Fohl connected again from beyond the arc at 6:59 to make it 64-54. Warfel added a jumper at 5:41, and Blount finished the run with free throws at 4:57 to give TU a commanding 67-54 cushion.

Mount Vernon Nazarene (6-13, 2-7 CL) never recovered from the tide of Trojan momentum. TU maintained control throughout the period, outscoring the Cougars 23-12 over the game's final 10 minutes. The Trojans held MVNU to just 26.7-percent shooting including 1 of 8 from three-point range in the final period.

Overall, both teams shot 39.1 percent from the field and 30 percent from deep, while TU won the battle on the boards 46-39 and turnovers 11-15.

The Trojans outscored the Cougars 19-6 in points off turnovers and 16-2 in fast-break points.

The victory marked TU's first win over MVNU at Odle Arena in nearly four years.

Taylor returns to action at home next Saturday against Grace (10-9, 2-7 CL), with tipoff set for 1 p.m. at Odle Arena.