MOUNT BERRY, Ga. - The Vikings (14-9, 8-4 SAA) could not overcome the pressure of the Trinity University Tigers, the final score 54-63. Elly Callihan led the team in scoring, ending the day with a strong 17 points on senior day.
The Vikings honored Callihan, Callie Jackson, and Lauren Ellard, as well as their manager Kristina Perez for their efforts during their careers as Vikings.
The Vikings won the tip for the first possession of the game. Jade Lewis had the first bucket for the Vikings, striking from beyond the arc to give them a 3-0 advantage. The lead was short-lived as the Tigers erased the zero at the free throw line and took the lead following a jumper from the baseline with four minutes off the clock in the first quarter. The Tigers made moving the ball difficult for the Vikings as they immediately looked to apply pressure. Still, the game remained close; neither team managed to create much of a cushion as the early goings continued. Trinity eventually came out of the first quarter ahead after a foul sent them to the charity stripe with 30 seconds remaining in the first quarter. The score after the first was 11-12.
The Tigers picked up where they left off to begin the second quarter, striking first to extend their lead to 5. Alaza Azeta disrupted the run, scoring the first bucket for the Vikings to make some progress into the deficit. Trinity kept themselves in front as the quarter continued until Lauren Ellard sparked a 9-0 run that pushed the Vikings ahead to lead by seven with two minutes left in the quarter. Now finding themselves behind the red-hot Vikings, the Tigers made a three-pointer to claw back within striking distance, but the Vikings kept their cushion, taking a six-point lead into the half, the score 27-21.
The offense sputtered for the Vikings as the second half began, and the Tigers took full advantage, waring back in front and extending the lead to four with seven minutes left on the clock in the third quarter. Briaiah Lewis took the lid off the basket for the Vikings, scoring the first basket for them with five minutes on the clock. The following effort by Elly Callihan put the Vikings back ahead by a point. The Viking advantage was short-lived as the Tigers completely asserted themselves, extending the lead back up to eight with a minute left for the quarter. Berry couldn't make any progress in closing the gap before the quarter was over, and the Tigers ended the quarter ahead, the score 33-41.
With the momentum on their side, the Tigers extended their lead to double digits as the fourth quarter started. Elly Callihan led a run that allowed the Vikings to cut the deficit down to six with five minutes left in the game. However, the momentum didn't stay with the Vikings long as the Tigers extended their lead back out to double digits with two minutes left on the clock, and ate up the rest of the game clock. Trinity escaped the Cage with the victory, the score 54-63.
The Vikings look to bounce back in Jackson, Mississippi, next Thursday, February 19th, in a rematch against the Millsaps College Colonels, tipping off at 6:30 p.m.
