Tripp sparks Dundee-Crown's win at Larkin
Needing to get more from its bench, Dundee-Crown found just what it was looking for Monday from Madilyn Tripp.
The 6-foot-2 sophomore center scored a career-high 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for her first career double-double, leading the Chargers to a 54-51 nonconference win at Larkin.
"I felt my team's confidence in me and it made me feel like a better player," Tripp said. "We have been practicing as hard as we can to get me more confident in the post and I think that really showed tonight. My teammates did really well to get me the ball."
Tripp was at her best with the game on the line. Clinging to a 47-45 lead, Tripp banked in a turnaround jumper.
After Royals star Marlee Kyles grabbed a rebound and raced the other way for a basket to pull within 49-47, Tripp again answered by sinking a 15-foot jump shot.
Tripp then passed out to Lucy Atherton for an assist that gave the Chargers a 53-49 lead, and she followed with a free throw to make it 54-49.
Haley Bohne's layup brought the Royals within 54-51 with 17 seconds left, and after the Chargers missed 2 free throws the Royals had a chance to tie.
Kyles, who led all scorers with 30 points, got a good look at a 3-pointer but the shot rimmed out at the buzzer.
"She stepped up," Chargers coach Sarah Miller said. "She started to be really strong with the ball. I was super proud of her. That was a huge game for her. Without our bench tonight we would not have finished the game."
Larkin (3-6) came out fast behind Kyles, who scored 13 points in the first quarter as the Royals took a 19-14 lead.
Dundee-Crown (4-7) answered by getting the ball to Allison Michalski, who had 10 of her team-high 17 points in the quarter.
Michalski picked up her third foul in the second quarter. Larkin led 25-21 at halftime.
The Chargers grabbed the lead with a 20-point third quarter. Melissa Barker caught fire with three 3-point baskets, and the Chargers went to the fourth quarter up 41-37.
Michalski fouled out with 4:19 left and the score tied at 45. Tripp's play helped the Chargers overcome it.
"She fouled out all I knew is we needed to stand up big," Tripp said. "I knew we needed to win for her."
Barker also reached double figures for the Chargers with 14 points.
"It was a little ugly but I was proud of the girls for finishing it," Miller said. "We've been working on trying to have balanced scoring."
Kyles also grabbed 12 rebounds. Bohne added 12 points and made all 6 of her free throws as the Royals shot 14 from 17 from the line but just 18 of 54 from the field.
"There's a couple jump shots they hit I was surprised they made," Larkin coach Steve Knapp said. "That kind of hurt. But one of the big things that hurt us was missing layups. We just need to finish those. Those are 2 points every time.
"When it was tied (at 45) I thought we were going to win. We had all the momentum in the world. We just didn't take care of the ball."