Women's Hoops Edges UMHB in Season Opener

Women's Hoops Edges UMHB in Season Opener

The Austin College women's basketball team used a pair of late free throws from Brooke Melton to edge the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor 76-74 on Saturday in the team's season opener. Melton also blocked a last second three point attempt to help seal the win.

The 'Roos trailed by as much as 16 in the first half before cutting it to a 38-34 margin heading into halftime, and after not leading since an early 11-9 edge, the 'Roos grabbed their first second half lead on a basket by Kendall Heitmeir to make it 59-57 with 8:32 left to play. A Brittany Stepanski basket made it 74-70 with 1:32 left, but UMHB fought bacck to square things up with just 40 seconds to play.

However, that's when Melton drew a foul and knocked down both free throws to make it 76-74 with 19 seconds left, and then followed up with a block on Macy Moore's three point attempt at the buzzer.

Erin Riley hit 4-of-5 threes on her way to 16 points and six rebounds and Christina Kime added 16 for the 'Roos, and Stepanski finished with 15 and five boards. Melton finished with eight and Lexi Beeson had a team-best five assists.