Women's Basketball Drops Heartbreaker in SCAC Semis

Schreiner University knocked down a three pointer with just 16 seconds left to hand the Austin College women's basketball team a 62-61 loss in the SCAC semifinals on Saturday. The loss ends the season for the 'Roos with an overall record of 18-8.

The 'Roos struggled to get into a rhythm on offense in the first half, shooting just 29% from the field before the break. Austin College hit its first two three pointers of the game, but missed the next five in the first half and scored only seven points in the second quarter as the Mountaineers took a 30-26 lead into halftime.

Austin College came alive in the third quarter, erupting for 22 points as Bryce Frank and Kali Vittallo took control to help give the 'Roos a 48-38 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The 'Ros stretched the lead to 50-38 early in the fourth, but Schreiner caught fire from beyond the arc, hitting three triples in a two minute stretch to cut it to a 55-49 game with 6:11 left to play.

The Mountaineers cut it to 55-53 with 4:05 remaining, and squared things up at 57-57 with 1:50 remaining. Olivia Bailey and Vittallo each scored to push the 'Roo lead back to 61-57 with 33 seconds to play, but after Schreiner got it back down to a two point game, Kelsie Jackson buried a three with just 16 seconds to play to put the Mountaineers ahead 62-61 and the 'Roos came up short on a last second attempt.

Frank finished with 22 points and eight rebounds to lead the 'Roos, and Vittallo added 16 points and three assists while hitting 4-of-10 three pointers. 

Schreiner hit 11-of-28 three pointers as a team, with Cassandra Aleman hitting 4-of-7 on her way to 14 points to lead the Mountaineers.