SHERMAN, Texas – Katie Gowdy knocked down 5-of-5 three pointers to lead a strong shooting effort as Austin College topped Texas Lutheran 73-66 on Saturday night. The 'Roos are now 16-7 overall and 10-3 in SCAC play and have won five straight.
Austin College hit 10-of-21 three pointers overall on the night, helping the 'Roos overcome a big deficit on the offensive glass. Texas Lutheran pulled down 18 offensive rebounds to keep things close after the 'Roos got out to a hot start from the field.
Texas Lutheran took an early 4-1 lead before Gowdy caught fire from long range, hitting a trio of three pointers in the game's first four minutes to put Austin College ahead 12-8. A Kali Vittallo triple pushed it to a 19-12 margin, and the 'Roos would head into the second quarter holding a 21-14 edge over the Bulldogs.
The scorching hot three point shooting would continue into the second quarter, as Gowdy and Olivia Bailey each knocked down early threes to extend the lead to 29-15 with 6:01 left before halftime. A bucket from Bailey made it a 33-21 game but the Bulldogs would cut it to a 33-24 halftime margin on a basket from Savannah Hight just before the break.
Texas Lutheran got two early threes to help get the lead down to 35-32 early in the third quarter but Kendall Heitmeier swished a three, followed quickly by another trey from Gowdy to make it a 41-32 game with 6:11 on the clock. Austin College led 51-40 after a pair of foul shots from Caitlyn Collins, but Hight would get a layup and Cierra Jordan went the length of the court to beat the buzzer as the Bulldogs cut it to a 51-44 game after three.
Collins scored five quick points to help get the lead back to double digits at 58-48, and a three point play from Bailey and a free throw from Chrissy Ray made it a 67-56 game with 1:01 left on the clock. Hight would knock down two three pointers in the game's final seconds to help cut it to a 70-66 game, but Austin College held on with three free throws in the final 11 seconds to ice the victory.
Gowdy finished with 19 points to lead the 'Roos, and Vittallo added 12 in the win. Collins and Bailey each scored 10, and Bailey chipped in six rebounds and four steals in the victory. With the win, the 'Roos are in double figures in conference wins for just the second time since joining the SCAC in the 2006-2007 season.
Hight led all scorers with 24 points, and Kristen Lye added eight points and 12 rebounds for Texas Lutheran.
Austin College will close out the SCAC regular season next Saturday against the University of Dallas before celebrating Senior Day against Rust College on Sunday.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.