'Roo Women Use Big Second Half to Pull Away for Victory

SHERMAN, Texas – After heading into the locker room tied at 28, the Austin College women's basketball team erupted for 47 second half points to pull away from visiting Hendrix College and earn a 75-59 victory on Saturday afternoon. Austin College improves to 3-3 overall with the win.

The teams traded baskets early, and after an Erin Riley three pointer made it 6-5 for the 'Roos the Warriors used a 7-0 run to take a 12-6 lead with 13:48 left in the opening frame. Austin College would score the next five to pull within a point, but Hendrix would use a 10-4 run to go on top 22-15 with 8:23 remaining.

A three pointer from Christina Kime cut it to a 24-22 game two minutes later, and the Warriors maintained a 28-25 lead following a jumper by Estrella Flores with 3:13 left. Each team went cold from the field at that point, and it wasn't until the final seconds of the half that either team got on the board again, as Kime buried a three pointer at the buzzer to square things up heading into the break.

Austin College carried that momentum into the second half, and Jenna Longo's three pointer put the 'Roos on top 37-32 three minutes in. Hendrix would fight back and take a 41-40 lead on a three pointer by Cait Kriesel-Bigler with 12:47 left to play, but a three from Kali Vittallo would give the lead right back to Austin College. Vittallo knocked down three free throws and Chrissy Ray scored two buckets to push the margin to 52-43 with just over nine minutes remaining.

Riley's three pointer with 5:30 left made it a 57-45 game, and after Hendrix cut the lead to eight, the 'Roos got back-to-back three pointers from Vittallo and Longo to make it 71-54 with 1:28 left in the game. Brianna Harvey and Kime added baskets in the final minute to seal the victory for Austin College.

Vittallo came off the bench to hit all three of her attempts from the field, including two from deep, and knocked down 7-of-8 free throws to score a career high 15 in the win, and Riley finished with 15 points and seven rebounds. Harvey had a double-double in the victory, scoring 13 points and grabbing 10 boards, and Kime finished with 10 points and seven assists as Austin College shot 57% from the field after halftime.

Sara Dyslin scored 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to pace the Warriors, and Anna King added 11 points and six boards. Kriesel-Bigler added a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists.

Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.