The Austin College women's basketball team struggled to get anything going offensively in a 78-56 loss to visiting Southwestern University on Friday, shooting just 28.6% from the field as a team. The 'Roos fall to 10-10 overall and 5-5 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play with the loss.
The 'Roos got out to a hot start with Erin Riley knocking down a pair of threes to open the game, but after taking a 14-9 lead on a Paige Picciotti basket with 12:22 left in the first half the 'Roos went scoreless for nearly eight minutes. The Pirates were able to score 16 unanswered to take a 25-14 lead before Christina Kime broke the slump with a bucket to make it 25-16 with 4:35 remaining before the break.
Jenna Longo's three cut it to a six point game moments later and a trey from Kime cut it to a 27-23 game with 2:51 on the clock, but the Pirates would close the half on an 8-0 run to head into the locker room leading 35-23.
Jordan Owens scored eight straight for the Pirates to open the second half as Southwestern took a 43-28 lead with 17:06 left to play, and the lead grew to 18 before a Riley three cut it to a 48-35 game with 14:47 remaining. However, the Pirates answered with a 10-0 run to push it to a 23 point margin. Brooke Melton scored six in a row to help Austin College trim it to a 14 point game at 62-48 with 6:34 to play.
That would be as close as the 'Roos would get though, as Southwestern would score the next seven to push the lead back to 69-48 and the margin grew back to as much as 22 at 75-53 with 2:14 on the clock. Madi Aliff and Olivia Bailey knocked down free throws for the 'Roos but a three from Brianna Turney with 24 seconds left made it a 78-56 final.
Riley was the lone 'Roo in double figures, hitting 4-of-7 shots overall and 4-of-6 from three to finish with 14 points and six rebounds. Brooke Melton scored nine points and handed out four assists, and Brittany Stepanski scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds in the loss.
Owens led three Pirates in double figures with 14 points and Cara Sheffer and Chelsea Leeder each scored 11. Annie Bourne added nine points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
The 'Roos will be looking to bounce back tomorrow when they take on Trinity University at 6:00 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 residential 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.