Trumbull Girls Hold Off Trinity Catholic In FCIAC Playoffs

The Trumbull girls basketball team avoided an upset Saturday in the FCIAC quarterfinals while St. Joseph wasn't as fortunate after losing leading scorer Nancy Stablein to an injury.

Erin Moore scored 20 points as the third-seeded Eagles held off No. 6 Trinity Catholic 52-46 in a game played at Fairfield Ludlowe. The contest was moved from Trumbull because the school is hosting the Class LL wrestling state championships this weekend.

The Eagles (18-3), who are the defending FCIAC champions, will host No. 7 Stamford in the first game of Tuesday's semifinal doubleheader at Fairfield Ludlowe at 6 p.m.. Top seed Danbury and No. 4 Wilton will meet in the other semifinal at 7:30 p.m.

Stamford, which beat Fairfield Warde on the final day of the regular season just to make the playoffs, which No. 2 seed St. Joseph 44-25 in Saturday's other quarterfinal.

Alexa Pfohl scored 13 points and Victoria Pfohl added seven for Trumbull, which was 25-of34 from the line, including a 12-of-14 effort from Moore.

The Crusaders, who lost the regular-season meeting against Trumbull 55-34, stayed in the game behind the board work of Ali Palma and Mackenzie Griffin, who combined for 21 rebounds.They also combined to score 41 points -- 22 by Griffin and 19 by Palma.

Trinity Catholic trailed by only four with under five minutes remaining, but Trumbull held on by hitting its free throws.

During the regular season, the Eagles defeated Stamford 52-33 on Jan. 10.

Stablein, who averages 18 points, was injured in the first minute of the game and did not return after scoring no points.

Without her, St. Joseph's offense faltered as the Cadets dropped to 17-4. They trailed 15-2 after the first quarter and 26-5 at the half.

Jenn Vasquez scored 10 points to lead St. Joseph, which made only seven baskets in the entire game.

Kelsey Cognetta scored 18 points and Kelsey Santagata added 13 for the Black Knights, who improved to 12-9.