Warfel Erupts for 35 Points, Blount Breaks Single-Season Blocks Record as Trojans Complete Season Sweep of Grace

UPLAND, Ind. – Kaycie Warfel poured in 35 points and RV Taylor women's basketball completed a season sweep of Grace with an 88-75 victory on Saturday afternoon at Odle Arena. The Trojans improved to 16-4 overall and 6-4 in Crossroads League play while posting their highest point total in league action this season.

Warfel connected on 15-of-23 (65.2%) shots, the fourth-most field goals made in program history, while adding six assists and four steals. The freshman guard drilled 5 of 6 three-point attempts and raised her NAIA-leading scoring average to 26.6 points per game. The performance marked her seventh game of the season with 30 or more points.

Quinn Kelly contributed 15 points, nine rebounds and six assists, while Madi Allen scored 12 points with five boards, five assists, two steals and two blocks. Kendall Sietsema added 10 points and six boards off the bench. Celina Blount chipped in four points, 10 rebounds and two blocks, giving her 60 blocks on the season for a new program record.

TU never trailed for the second consecutive game and improved to 9-1 at Odle Arena.

The Trojans dominated in transition, outscoring Grace 33-15 in fastbreak points while shooting 52.1 percent from the field. Grace struggled at 34.1 percent shooting.

The Trojans seized control immediately, racing to an 11-1 lead while shooting 5-of-6 from the field. Grace went without a field goal until the six-minute mark as TU extended the advantage to 13-2 on 6-of-7 shooting. The hot start continued as the Trojans connected on 15-of-18 attempts (83.3 percent) in the opening quarter while dishing 10 assists. Warfel's 3-pointer and layup pushed the lead to 25-12 at the 3:15 mark. TU carried a 34-25 cushion into the second quarter behind 14 points from Warfel and eight from Kelly.

Warfel opened the second period with back-to-back layups to extend the advantage to 38-27, and she eventually tallied 20 points at the halftime break. The lead hovered near 10 points before Sietsema's 3-pointer and Emma Ancelet's jumper stretched it to 47-32 with under four minutes remaining. Sietsema reached 10 points at halftime as the Trojans shot 57.9 percent (22-of-38) with four made 3-pointers. Grace closed on a 6-0 run, capped by a buzzer-beating triple, to trim the halftime deficit to 49-41.

After halftime, the Lancers pulled within seven at 56-49 with 6:04 left in the third quarter before TU answered with a decisive 7-0 run. Warfel's layup eclipsed the 30-point mark and pushed the advantage to 63-49 at the 4:24 media timeout. Kalyn Bunch's layup in the final minute gave the Trojans a 69-58 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

TU maintained control in the final period. Allen scored on a fastbreak layup and converted two free throws to extend the lead to 80-64 with 4:38 remaining. Ancelet's 3-pointer pushed the advantage to 88-72 with under two minutes to play, sealing the Trojan victory.

Emma Sperry led Grace (10-10, 2-8 CL) with 23 points on 9-of-20 shooting, including five made 3-pointers. Becca Gerdt posted a double-double with 19 points and 16 rebounds. The Lancers struggled at the free-throw line, converting just 33.3 percent (5-of-15).

TU returns to action Wednesday at Indiana Wesleyan (11-9, 5-5 CL) for the "Hoops for Hope" game with tipoff scheduled for 5 p.m. at Luckey Arena. The Trojans defeated then-ranked No. 13 IWU earlier this season, 66-61.