HARTFORD, Conn. - Junior center Reilly Campbell (Wallingford, Conn.) had 14 points and 19 rebounds to lead the Trinity College Bantams to a 58-43 win over the visiting Notre Dame Maryland University Gators in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship Tournament this evening at Oosting Gymnasium.  Trinity improves to 23-5, setting a program record for wins in a season, and will face SUNY Cortland at home in the second round tomorrow at 6:30 p.m.   Notre Dame sees its season end at 23-5.  The Cortland Red Dragons defeated St. Vincent, 62-51, in the other first round today in Hartford.  The NCAA win was just the second in Trinity history and the first for the Bantams since a 66-63 triumph against Southern Maine in 1995.

"We did exactly what we needed to tonight," said Trinity Head Coach Emily Garner.  "What makes our program unique is our depth and how different people step up on any given night.  The selflessness and team-first attitude are what set us apart.  We are going to enjoy this for maybe an hour and then get back to work."

Both offenses started slowly over the first few minutes of the game before a three-pointer from the left corner by senior Frankie Silva (Auburndale, Mass.) and a put-back by Campbell gave Trinity an 8-4 lead four minutes into the first period.  The score stayed there for over three minutes until Bantam sophomore guard Indi DelRocco (Branford, Conn.) made a pair of free throws followed by a traditional three-point play by senior guard Bria Fuller (Springdale, Md.) pushed Trinity's lead to 13-4 at the 1:12 mark.  Alexis Jones answered for Notre Dame with a jumper that broke the Gators' 5:46 scoring drought, but junior guard Tori Varsamis (Belmont, Mass.) drilled a long three-pointer from the right wing moments later.  Jones made a free throw in the closing seconds with 23 seconds left and Trinity led, 16-7, at the first break.

Jones scored again early in the second quarter before Fuller and Silva hit short jumpers to make the score, 20-9, just over two minutes into the frame.  Notre Dame's Alexis Durham scored two of her game-high 21 points to cut the Gator deficit to single digits at 22:13 with 4:07 on the clock, but Trinity exploded for a 9-0 run over the next 2:11 of the game.  Campbell scored two buckets, DelRocco had a drive, and Varsamis punctuated the the rin with another triple.  Durham made two late free throws for a 31-15 Bantam lead at halftime.  

Trinity continued to build its lead in the third stanza, taking a 46-20 lead with 2:13 on the clock on a bucket inside by first-year forward Samantha Slofkiss (Marlboro, N.J.).  The Bantam lead remained comfortable the rest of the way. although Notre Dame outscored Trinity, 18-10, in the fourth quarter to account for the 58-43 final score.  Fuller joined Campbell in double figures in scoring with 12 points, while Silva and fellow senior Madison Stevens (Burlington, Conn.) scored seven points each, junior Emma Wax (Pine Brook, N.J.) dished five assists, and Slofkiss grabbed six boards. Trinity's defense was stifling, holding Notre Dame to a 22.8 field goal percentage and just one three-pointer made in 18 tries.  Daija Fitchett had nine rebounds for Notre Dame, which did shoot 88.9 percent from the foul line (16-19).