SHERMAN, Texas – The Austin College women's basketball team pulled off a big upset in the team's final game before the holiday break, knocking off previously unbeaten and No. 13-ranked Texas-Tyler 82-73 on Saturday afternoon in Hughey Gym. The win snaps a three game skid and brings Austin College to 6-3 on the year.
The 'Roos came out hot from the start, getting three pointers from Katie Gowdy and Kali Vittallo to open the game with an 8-1 run and pushing the lead to 14-4 on a Chrissy Ray bucket with 4:34 left in the first quarter. UT-Tyler closed the quarter with a 10-5 run to make it a 19-14 'Roo lead heading into the second frame.
The Patriots scored the first five points of the second to square things up at 19, but Vittallo knocked down another three to help Austin College on an 11-3 run to make it a 30-22 game with 5:25 left in the opening half. UT-Tyler fought back to make it a 30-27 game but once again, Vittallo answered with a trey to push it to a six point game, and Kendall Heitmeier's basket with 14 seconds left capped a 12-4 run and sent the 'Roos into the break leading 42-31.
The teams traded baskets early in the third quarter but three pointers from Gowdy, Vittallo, and Caitlyn Collins pushed it to a 51-42 lead for Austin College, and the lead grew to as much as 20 at 65-45 with 2:23 left in the third on a basket by Bryce Frank. The Patriots scored five in a row to make it a 15 point game, but Olivia Cicci swished a trey from the corner with 30 seconds left in the quarter to send the 'Roos into the fourth leading 68-50.
The Patriots started chipping away at the Austin College lead, cutting it to a 70-59 game with 5:26 left to play but Vittallo buried two more three pointers and Heitmeier scored a layup to put Austin College ahead 78-63 with 3:50 to play. UT-Tyler would not go away, though, getting the lead down to eight at 79-71 with 38 seconds to play before Frank made three of four free throws down the stretch to seal the game for Austin College.
Vittallo hit 8-of-10 shots overall and 6-of-7 from three point range to finish with 22 points, adding seven assists and five rebounds in the victory. Heitmeier and Frank each finished with 13 points and eight boards, and Gowdy chipped in 10 points in the victory as the 'Roos hit 10-of-21 three pointers as a team.
Alex Kochner scored 22 and grabbed seven boards to lead Texas-Tyler in both categories, and Re'Elle Miller scored 13 points and came away with five steals for the Patriots, who hounded the 'Roos into 24 turnovers, including 11 in the fourth quarter as they attempted their comeback bid.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.