COLUMBIA — The Trinity Lady Saints saw their great season come to a disappointing end in the first round of the MPSA Class AA South State Tournament Monday night.

The Lady Saints took a one-point lead into the fourth quarter, but couldn’t hold on in a 38-30 loss to Bowling Green.

The Lady Saints season comes to an end with a 23-10 record.

“I’m disappointed for my girls,” Trinity coach Melanie Hall said. “I hate for us to go out like that. We didn’t play good basketball tonight. You hope that in tournament time you’re playing your best and not your worst, but we didn’t play our best tonight.”

Despite not playing their best, the Lady Saints had a chance to win the game.

Trinity led 18-17 at halftime and took a 24-23 lead into the fourth quarter.

However, the Lady Saints were out-scored in the fourth quarter 15-6 and couldn’t mount a final comeback.

The main difference in the game was free throw shooting.

Trinity was just 5-9 from the line while Bowling Green was 17-34 from the charity stripe.

“Give Bowling Green credit,” Hall said. “They did what they had to do. They beat us.”

Molly Butts led Trinity with 14 points while Caroline Ketchings had six.

Bowling Green was led by Gabby Givens with 15 points while Samantha Dykes added eight in the winning effort.

Hall said she was “blessed” to have worked with what she called a “great group of kids” this season.

“When they’re playing like they’re capable of and playing to each other’s strengths, they’re a great team,” Hall said. “I’m just disappointed it had to end this way for them.”