Defense Propels 'Roo Women's Hoops to Win Over Agnes Scott

The Austin College women's basketball team held visiting Agnes Scott College to just 22.4% shooting and the Scotties went scoreless for nearly eight minutes to end the game as the 'Roos earned a 45-34 victory and improve to 6-7 overall this season. 

Both teams struggled offensively early in the first half, with the 'Roos finally getting on the board first two and a half minutes in on a Brittany Stepanski layup. A Jacqui Nickell jumper two minutes later put the 'Roos up 6-4, and after an Agnes Scott basket the score would remain knotted at six until the 10:06 mark when an Erin Riley bucket made it 8-6. Christina Kime followed with a three to make it 11-8, but Agnes Scott would take its first lead at 14-12 with 6:07 left before the break. 

However, five straight points from Shayna Clardy would key an 8-0 run by the 'Roos to close the half and head into the break leading 20-14. Austin College shot 46.7% from the field in the opening half while the Scotties hit just 6-of-29 attempts prior to the break. 

Agnes Scott would surge ahead early in the second half though, as the Scotties caught fire from long range with three straight threes from Erica Sims, Arielle Register, and Tiffany Jones to cap off a 15-5 run and take a 29-25 lead with 12:59 remaining. The lead would be short lived, however, as a Kime three cut it to a one point game and kicked off a 10-0 run by Austin College as the 'Roos grabbed a 35-29 lead with 8:50 left in the game. 

The Scotties would close the gap to 37-34 on another three from Jones with 7:36 to play, but Austin College would hold Agnes Scott scoreless the rest of the way on their way to an 11 point victory. Stepanski would score four of her team high 10 points over the final seven minutes. 

Stepanski hit 3-of-6 from the field and 4-of-5 from the line and just missed out on a double double, adding nine rebounds to her 10 points. She also blocked three shots in the game. Kime finished with eight points and three assists. 

Jones led the Scotties with 12 points, hitting 5-of-11 from the field and 2-of-5 from long range as the only Agnes Scott player in double figures. 

The 'Roos head out on the road on New Year's Day when they take on the University of Texas-Dallas at 2:00 p.m. in Richardson. 

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.