The Austin College women's basketball team staged a big comeback in the waning moments against the University of Texas-Dallas, but the 'Roos were unable to completely close the gap, falling 72-68 to the Comets on Tuesday night in Hughey Gym. The 'Roos are now 1-3 overall on the season with the loss.
The two teams traded buckets to open the game, with six lead changes in the first seven minutes including a basket by Brittany Stepanski to put Austin College up 8-7 before a UTD bucket put the Comets back on top 9-8. The Comets got a three from Jo'Anna Davis to make it 12-8 with 11:18 left, and two more threes from Davis pushed it to an 18-11 game with 9:30 left.
Christina Kime pulled Austin College to within four at 20-16 on a three pointer, but the Comets scored the next six to push the lead to 10 points with 7:28 left. UTD led by as much as 11 with just over two minutes left before halftime, but Kendall Heitmeier and Brooke Melton combined for six points to pull the 'Roos to within seven at 34-27 at the break.
After a bucket by Stepanski and a free throw from Erin Riley made it 36-30 early in the second half, the Comets went on a 10-0 run to make it 46-30 with 10:25 left to play. The lead grew to 51-34 just over a minute later, but Austin College began to chip away at the lead and a Riley three pointer made it 52-45 with 5:20 left to play.
Austin College pulled to within four twice over the next two minutes, but UTD responded both times and got a three from Christina Brosnahan to make it 60-51 with just over three minutes on the clock. The lead was extended to 10 on another three from Davis, but Riley scored five quick points and Kime got a three point play and scored a layup to cut it to a 68-66 game with just 16 seconds left. However, that's as close as the 'Roos would get as UTD knocked down two free throws and the 'Roos would turn it over on their last possession to make it a 72-68 final.
Stepanski had 15 points, nine rebounds, and three blocked shots and Kime finished with 15 points and three assists to lead the 'Roos, while Brooke Melton had 13 points, seven boards, and two blocks and Riley finished with a double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in the loss.
UTD's Madi Hess hit 15-of-18 free throws to finish with a game-high 30 points and added four assists and Morgan Kilgore and Davis each scored 12 for the Comets.
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.