Brittany Stepanski scored on a putback with 3.9 seconds to play to give the Austin College women's basketball team a dramatic 74-72 victory over Colorado College on Friday night in Hughey Gym. The 'Roos are now 12-10 overall and 7-5 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play.
After scoring the first four points of the game, the 'Roos hit a cold streak from the field as Colorado College used an 8-0 run to grab an early lead, but threes from Paige Picciotti and Kendall Heitmeier helped cut it to an 11-10 game and a pair of free throws by Briana Harvey gave the 'Roos the lead back at 12-11 with 11:50 left in the half. The Tigers got a three from Korbyn Ukasick to briefly regain the lead but Christina Kime answered with a trey of her own to make it 15-14.
Colorado College grabbed a 20-19 lead on a Courtney Tyus bucket with 8:24 left, but a 13-4 run by Austin College capped off by an Erin Riley three put the 'Roos on top 32-24 with 3:36 remaining before the half. Kime added a three to help Austin College head into the locker room leading 39-28.
A three from Kime to open the second half sparked a 7-0 run to push it to 46-28 with 17:49 left, giving Austin College its largest lead of the game. Colorado College cut the lead to 12 before a three from Heitmeier and a basket by Kime made it 51-35 with 13:43 to play but Danielle Davis scored eight points during a 12-0 run that pulled the Tigers to within 51-47 with 11:14 left.
The 'Roos were able to maintain a small cushion over the next eight minutes before the Tigers got five straight from Davis to grab a 64-63 lead with 3:36 left, but the lead changed hands seven times over the next three minutes before Tyus scored with 20 seconds left to square things at 72 apiece. On the ensuing possession for the 'Roos, Stepanski collected a missed shot in front of the hoop and was able to put in the follow to make it 74-72, and a halfcourt heave by Tyus hit off the backboard.
Kime led five 'Roos in double figures with 19 points and added three assists, and Stepanski finished with 13 and seven boards. Riley finished with 12 and six boards, and Heitmeier and Brooke Melton each scored 11 in the victory as the 'Roos hit 25-of-30 free throws as a team to help earn the victory.
Davis led all scorers with 21 points and had seven rebounds and Tyus finished with 14 and six assists. Katie Wirth added 12 points and nine boards, and Katie Waters added 12.
Austin College has won two in a row and will be looking to keep that momentum going tomorrow when they host the University of Dallas at 8:00 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.