The Austin College women's basketball team fell in a 17 point halftime hole and was unable to recover, falling 80-57 to visiting Southwestern University on Friday night in Hughey Gym. The 'Roos are now 3-21 overall and 3-11 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play with the loss.
The 'Roos jumped out to an early 5-2 lead following a trey from Angeleena Young, but an 11-0 run by Southwestern made it 13-5 in favor of the Pirates with 15:00 left before halftime. The 'Roos cut it to a 13-10 game on an Allison Taylor basket before Southwestern answered with an 8-2 run to make it 21-12 with 10:22 remaining.
Christina Kime scored to trim it to a 25-18 game three minutes later, but Valerie Logan and Jordan Owens combined for eight in a row to put the Pirates ahead by 15, and after a Kersti Marusich three cut it to a 37-27 game Southwestern closed the opening half with a 9-2 run to head into the locker room leading 46-29.
The 'Roos would manage to cut it to a 12 point game following a three from Young and another bucket from Marusich, but a 20-4 run by the Pirates would push the margin to 68-40 with 8:06 left to play. The lead grew to 31 on a three by Anna Fareed to make it 79-48 with 4:19 left, and the 'Roos would end the game on a 9-1 run to make it an 80-57 final.
The Pirates knocked down 10 threes in the game and owned a 48-30 advantage on the glass on their way to the victory while holding the 'Roos to 36.7% shooting, including 20.8% shooting from the three point arc.
Marusich had a huge game for the 'Roos, posting her second straight double-double with 24 points and 11 rebounds while Young finished with 13 points and Taylor finished with 10.
Owens led the Pirates with 15 points and Annie Bourne had a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds. Chelsea Leeder added 13 points and five assists and Madison Eschle chipped in 12 points.
Austin College wraps up the season tomorrow night when they play host to Trinity University with tip time set for 4:00 p.m.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
About Austin College
Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas. Founded in 1849, making it the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original charter and name, the college is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Recognized nationally for academic excellence in the areas of international education, pre-professional training, and leadership studies, Austin College is one of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope's influential book Colleges that Change Lives.