NATCHEZ — With Madelyn Cross and Bethany Ogden no longer on the team, the Trinity Episcopal girls basketball team is looking for new players to step up as scorers.

That search is still under way, as Trinity struggled offensively against Silliman Institute Tuesday night as the Lady Wildcats won 43-25.

“We have to work harder and we have to get better,” Trinity head coach Richy Spears said. “We have a lot of improvement that needs to happen on offense, defense, everything.

“We just have to be more aggressive (offensively). We’re not very aggressive with the basketball. We just have to get better.”

Trinity trailed 8-0 to start the game before Abbey Ashmore hit a three-point shot with 4:07 left in the first quarter. Silliman’s Kayla Davidson hit two free throws to make it 10-3 at the end of one.

The Lady Saints showed signs of life in the second quarter, outscoring Silliman 13-11 to make it 21-16 at the half. Margaret Ward sank two foul shots with 6:32 to go, and Rosie Woods had a field goal at the 4:28 mark. Nine of Sillimans 11 points came on free throws, but the Lady Saints managed to limit Silliman to four points in the final four minutes of the half.

Rachel House added a free throw with 4:15 left, then Ashmore sank back-to-back three-pointers to make it 18-14 with 2:38 left. Murphy Aldridge hit a two-pointer at the 2:28 mark in the second to round out Trinity’s scoring.

The Lady Saints were unable to keep cutting into Silliman’s lead after that. The Lady Wildcats went on an 11-0 run at the start of the third quarter before a free throw by Ward ended Trinity’s scoring drought. The Lady Wildcats outscored Trinity 17-6 in the third to make it 38-22 at the end of three.

The Lady Saints scored just three points in the fourth quarter while Silliman added 11 points to its total.

Silliman’s Bradleigh Brignac led in scoring with 11 points, and Ashley Hurst added 10 points for the Lady Wildcats. No one from Trinity scored in double digits, and Ashmore finished the game with nine points.

Trinity fell to 2-1 on the season.

Trinity boys 67,

Silliman 54

The Trinity boys had no trouble scoring, and despite a big game from Silliman’s Peyton Moody, the Saints improved to 1-1 on the year.

Tanner Cage led in scoring with 28 points, and Trae McKenzie added 10 points for Trinity. Moody had 24 points for Silliman, and Riley Sones scored 18.

Trinity led 34-33 at the half and 56-41 at the end of three.

Trinity will host Porter’s Chapel next Monday.