Gary, Ind. -- The Indiana University Northwest women's basketball suffered a defeat by the hands of Trinity International in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference matchup Wednesday. The Trojans (11-8, 5-6 CCAC) defeated the RedHawks (7-12, 4-7 CCAC), 51-44, at the Savannah Center, Wednesday. 

TIU started out the contest strong by leading 9-1 in the first four and a half minutes. Michaela Schmidt (Highland, Ind./Highland) ended the IUN drought with a basket.

IUN tried to carry some momentum going into the second quarter after Ashley O'Malley (Crown Point, Ind.) hit a basket and Jayla Crump (Kouts, Ind./Kouts) nailed a three-pointer to make it 17-8 after the opening period. The RedHawks responded after scoring the first four points of the quarter including a trifecta by Crump. 

With under five minutes to play in the half, Lauren Smolen (Crown Point, Ind./Lake Central) hit a basket to cut it to four (20-16). A few moments later, Jocelyn Colburn (LaPorte, Ind./LaPorte) knocked one down to make it 24-20 at halftime.

The Trojans started the second half strong as TIU went up 31-22 with under two minutes left in the period. IUN capitalized from the free throw line after Breanna Boles (Lapel, Ind.) and Sarah Martin (DeMotte, Ind./Kankakee Valley) nailed four consecutive free throws to make it a three-point game (31-28) after the third quarter.

TIU took control of the fourth quarter. IUN cut to three again as Hannah Hammar (Hammond, Ind./Morton) made a pair of free throws but that was the closest the RedHawks got the rest of the way as the Trojans scored the last four points of the contest to win 51-44. 

Smolen led the RedHawks with eight points and nine rebounds. Schmidt and Crump also had eight points for IUN.

IUN returns to action Saturday, January 18 as the RedHawks travel to Milwaukee, Wis. to take on the Cardinal Stritch Wolves starting at 1 p.m. CT.