'Roo Women's Hoops Edged by Ozarks

The Austin College women's basketball team fell 79-73 to the University of Ozarks on Friday night as the Eagles shot 64% from the field in the second half, dropping the 'Roos to 1-1 overall this season. The 'Roos will be looking to get back in the win column when they face Oklahoma City University tomorrow afternoon. 

Christina Kime carried the 'Roos to an early 11-4 lead, hitting a pair of threes and knocking down two free throws in the first six minutes of the game. After Ozarks pulled within 14-13, Briana Harvey scored eight of 10 points as the 'Roos extended the lead to 24-20 with 8:18 left. Ozarks came back to tie things up at 24 before an Erin Riley basket, but the Eagles would score 11 unanswered to jump out to a 35-26 lead with 4:34 left in the half. 

However, Riley scored eight straight including a pair of treys to bring Austin College back to within one at 35-34, and two more three pointers from Kime put the 'Roos ahead 40-39 heading into halftime. Austin College shot just 33.3% from the field in the first half but hit seven threes and knocked down 9-of-10 free throws to hold a halftime lead. 

Austin College scored the first six to open the second half and widen the margin to 46-39 early, and the lead grew to 51-43 on a Riley three, but once again the Eagles used an 11-0 run to pull ahead 54-51 with 14:40 left. Kime knocked down another trey to tie things up, but Ozarks used a 13-6 run to push their advantage to 67-60 with 6:48 remaining. 

Kime hit another three and Brittany Stepanski scored five straight to help the 'Roos cut it to a three point game at 76-73 with 1:10 left on the clock, but Austin College turned the ball over with 40 seconds left and the Eagles knocked down three free throws down the stretch to make it a 79-73 final. 

Kime hit 8-of-11 shots overall, including 7-of-9 from deep on her way to a game-high 25 points and also handed out six assists to lead the 'Roos. Riley went 7-for-21 from the field and finished with 17 and five boards, and Harvey came off the bench to score 12 points in the loss as the 'Roos shot just 36.9% from the field as a team. 

Taylor Farmer scored 16 to lead four Eagles in double figures, with Jordana Andrews scoring 15, Tamara Wilkett scoring 13, and RaShelle Goldman adding 12 for Ozarks. Wilkett added seven boards and six assists as Ozarks shot 55.2% from the field for the game. 

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.