IRVING, Texas -- Kailee Mulkey's 22 point 11 rebound double-double paced Texas Lutheran as it won the program's third SCAC Women's Basketball tournament championship on Sunday afternoon with a 73-63 victory over Trinity. Official Tournament Website | Photo Gallery | Postgame Interview | Women's Tournament Stats
Texas Lutheran (23-4) clinches the league's automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship and will await word of its opponent and location when the bracket is announced on Monday. Texas Lutheran improved to 3-1 in the SCAC championship game, including a 3-1 mark against Trinity.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a quick 9-3 lead two minutes into the game thanks to a Sarahi Jones jumper. Kylie Minter gave Trinity its first lead (13-12) after she connected from beyond the arc at the 4:30-mark. An Angelina Sotelo, layup pushed the Bulldog lead to 23-15 with 8:45 to play before halftime. A fast break layup from Trinity's Livy Sauvageau pulled the Tigers to within three (23-20) midway through the second quarter. From there, Texas Lutheran was able to withstand any Trinity comeback attempt and went into the locker room at the break with a 39-30 lead.
In the second half, the Bulldogs quickly extended their lead to 17 at 50-33 thanks to a transition 3-pointer from Lauren Sansano at the 6:06-mark of the third quarter. Texas Lutheran then pushed its lead to 57-37 less than a minute into the fourth quarter. The Bulldog lead ballooned to as much as 22 (66-44) midway through the fourth before Texas Lutheran snuffed out any serious threat from Trinity the remainder of regulation.
- Texas Lutheran shot 40.3 percent (27-of-67) from the floor compared to Trinity's 36.9 percent (24-of-65).
- The Bulldogs held a commanding edge on the glass as Texas Lutheran out-rebounded Trinity by a 54-34 margin, including 18-6 on the offensive glass.
- The two teams were evenly matched as they totaled 26 points in the paint.
- Trinity held a slim 14-9 lead in points off turnovers while Texas Lutheran held an even smaller edge (6-4) in second chance points.
- Kylie Minter: 17 points, 5-of-11 FG's, 7 rebounds
- Josie Napoli: 10 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals
- Livy Sauvageau: 8 points, 3-of-5 FG's, 2-of-4 3FG's
- Kailey Mulkee: 22 points, 11 rebounds, 9-of-19 FG's, 1 steal
- Angelina Sotelo: 17 points, 5 rebounds, 6-of-13 FG's, 3-of-7 3FG's, 4 assists
- Sarahi Jones: 10 points, 10 rebounds, 4-of-9 FG's
- Callie Perez: 7 points, 6 rebounds, (5 offensive)
- Texas Lutheran's Kailee Mulkey was name the Tournament's Most Valuable Player. Joining Mulkey on the All-Tournament team was Texas Lutheran's Zaria Solis and Lauren Sansano, Trinity's Josie Napoli and Kylie Minter, and McMurry's Aryana Clevelan
- The Bulldogs won their first SCAC championship since 2019. Texas Lutheran also won a league title in 2014.
- This was the fourth meeting between the Bulldogs and Tigers in the SCAC championship game. Texas Lutheran improved to 3-1 against Trinity in the title game. Trinity's lone win against Texas Lutheran was in 2017.
- Texas Lutheran improved to 14-8 all-time in the SCAC tounament, including 3-5 against Trinity
- Trinity ends the season with a 16-12 record.
