Wingertzahn's Double-Double Powers Trinity Hall Past Mater Die

Above photos by Tom Smith: #30 Caitlin Wingertzahn, #4 Bridget Andree, #10 Colleen Cust, #15 Kathryn Kwapniewski and #12 Ashley Ventura

TINTON FALLS – Sophomore forward Caitlin Wingertzahn put up a career-high 25 points to lead Trinity Hall to an important 48-39 win over division rival Mater Dei Thursday in Tinton Falls.

The win was their second of the season over Mater Dei and extends their lead over the Seraphs (10-6, 8-3) to three games in the Shore Conference Class B Central and keeps them tied atop the division with state power St. Rose, ranked No.2 in the state.

Trinity Hall (14-0, 8-0) and St. Rose are scheduled to meet Friday, February 2 on the Monarchs home floor in a game that will most likely determine the B Central championship.

In Thursday’s game, the Monarchs trailed 12-8 after one quarter. Wingertzahn had begun to heat up towards the end of the first quarter scoring the final four points before she went off scoring ten of Trinity Hall’s 15 second-quarter points.

Her outburst fueled a 11-2 run that began with junior Coleen Cusat’s three pointer at the 3:40 mark and ended with a Wingertzahn layup with 10 seconds left in the half to hand them a 23-18 lead at the break.

“Oh my goodness, it’s been our best season yet, and it’s our first graduating class, so it’s been really great to see these girls do what they can do.” said Wingertzahn when asked what the undefeated start has been like. “I really couldn’t do it without them. They push me every single practice, every single game to be my best. I could never thank them enough and I really want to do what they do when I’m a senior.”

The Monarchs start four seniors and a junior with Wingertzahn being the first player off the bench.

Mater Dei entered the game with the intent off slowing down Trinity Hall star Bridget Andree by collapsing their defense around her. But in doing so that opened things up for Wingertzahn, who was averaging 6.5 PPG entering Thursday’s contest, and she responded with a break-out game that put everyone on notice that she’s someone to be reckoned with.

“She’s a very talented girl, and I think she’s finally starting to realize that she is special and that she has the game,” Trinity Hall head coach Pat Grier said. “It’s about believing in herself and having confidence; that’s the one thing I always say to her. She gives herself confidence, and takes it away, so it’s her personal choice. I see her game coming on because of the confidence in herself.”

In addition to her 25 points, Wingertzahn grabbed 11 boards for her first career double-double, blocked two shots and dished out two assists in tremendous all-around effort.

“It’s really amazing because last year I really wasn’t doing anything for this team,” Wingertzahn added. “Everybody’s been pushing me saying we see what you can do and I couldn’t see until this year and I finally got the confidence to get out there and do what I do and it’s really a lot of fun.”

Andree, who became the school’s first 1000-point scorer earlier this season, was held below her 18.4 PPG season average scoring just seven points but she dominated in other areas of the game pulling down a game-high 14 rebounds while blocking three shots and assisting on two buckets.

“I think they (Mater Dei) noticed what a big impact Bridget has on our team and they weren’t really focused on any other inside players,” Wingertzah said. “It’s really fun to be working with these girls and when they can’t step up or when I can’t step up we all balance each other out.”

“Bridget is fully aware that she will be doubled most times in her game but she just never quits,” said Grier. “She’s an exceptional player but in saying that I feel all the girls on the team are exceptional and each player brings a different gift to the party. Tonight it was Caitlin, and she deserves every bit of the attention she got, she was outstanding and I look forward to the next couple of years with her.”

The Monarchs out-rebounded the Seraphs by large margin, 51-26, in the game with Andree and Wingertzahn accounting for 24 of them.

Trinity Hall extended its lead to ten, 35-25, after three quarters with Wingertzahn accounting for the final six points of the quarter. Cusat opened the fourth quarter with her second three of the night and Trinity Hall then pushed the lead to 19 points, 46-27, with just under three minutes left in the game.

Wingertzahn sank her final bucket of the night to give Trinity Hall a 48-31 lead with 1:35 remaining and as she approached the bench – finished for the night - she was greeted with a well-deserved standing ovation from the home crowd.

Mater Dei made one final push with most of the Trinity Hall starters on the bench getting the final score under ten, 48-39, but the game’s outcome had already been decided long before.

Senior Catherine Loder finished with two points but added seven boards with two assists and a blocked shot while senior Nicole Ventura added four points, six rebounds with an assist and senior Kathryn Kwapniewski grabbed nine rebounds along with three assists and two points.

Sophomore Taylor Crystian led the Seraphs with 16 points while Katherine Zoda added 15 points.

Although still undefeated Trinity Hall has yet to crack the Shore Conference Top 10 primarily due to their soft schedule. However, the Monarchs will have plenty of opportunities to distinguish themselves in the coming weeks with the St. Rose game right around the corner then the Shore Conference Tournament and state tournament following closely behind.

“Our goal is to fight to the end,” said Grier. “We would love to win a championship and I know we would have a very long road but don’t underestimate this group. They’re fighters and they give it everything they’ve got and they just have to keep fighting and doing what they do best till the end of the season.”

Follow @getmready