The Austin College women's basketball team got 19 points from Brianna Harvey and held off a late run by Rust College, coming away with a 69-64 road victory on Saturday afternoon. The 'Roos are now 2-2 overall on the year with the win.
The 'Roos and Bearcats traded baskets through the first part of the opening half, with baskets by Harvey and Paige Picciotti giving Austin College a 12-9 lead with 15:49 on the clock. Rust surged back to take a 23-19 lead with 7:31 left before the break, but five straight points from Chrissy Ray and a three pointer from Erin Riley put the 'Roos ahead 27-23 two minutes later.
Five quick points from Christina Kime and a bucket from Harvey sent Austin College into halftime with a 36-29 lead.
Rust pulled to within two at 44-42 with 12:33 left in the game, but four points from Katie Gowdy helped Austin College extend the lead to 52-44 with 9:12 on the clock. The lead grew to 11 after a basket from Riley and a three point play from Harvey to make it 57-46 with 5:59 to play, and a three from Riley and another layup by Harvey made it 62-53 with just over three minutes remaining.
The Bearcats used a quick 6-0 run to cut it to a 62-59 game with under two minutes on the clock, but Kime sank four straight free throws down the stretch, Picciotti got a layup, and Riley added one final free throw to make it a 69-64 final.
Harvey finished the game hitting 9-of-12 shots to get her 19 points, and added six rebounds. Kime finished with 14 points and five assists, and Riley had 12 points, nine rebounds, and five assists in the victory.
Latonya Gadison led Rust with 14 points and Suzette Suggs had 11 points and 12 rebounds.
The 'Roos are back in action tomorrow when they play Rhodes at 4:00 p.m. in Memphis.