'Roo Women Overcome Cold Shooting to Top Colorado College

SHERMAN, Texas – The Austin College women's basketball team got 19 points and 20 rebounds from Bryce Frank and the 'Roos overcame shooting just 33.3% from the field to top Colorado College 71-54 on Friday night in Hughey Gym. The 'Roos are now 16-5 overall and 9-1 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

The 'Roos got off to a hot start, with Ann Savage knocking down a pair of threes while Addison Walling and Kacie West each buried a trey of their own. Reagan Chiaverini's triple gave Austin College a 19-6 advantage with 3:15 left in the opening quarter, but the Tigers would close with an 8-2 run to cut it to a 21-14 difference after the first. 

Walling knocked down another trey to get the second quarter started, but Colorado College fought back and pulled to within three at 24-21 on a Casey Torbet triple. However, Meghan Lewis answered with a three of her own to make it 27-21 with 6:08 left before halftime. Austin College got the lead to seven at 34-27 but McKenzee Gertz hit a three to trim it to a four-point game, and that's where things would stand after two quarters.

Torbet and Gertz each hit a trey to open up the third quarter to give the Tigers a 36-34 lead, but Frank scored six in a row and Caitlyn Collins swished a three to give Austin College a 43-38 advantage with 4:36 left in the third. Gertz would hit another three to pull the Tigers to within two, but Chiaverini scored to make it 47-43 heading into the fourth.

Walling hit a jumper and Frank scored four quick points to give the 'Roos some breathing room, and Lewis converted a three-point-play to put Austin College on top 56-46 with 5:41 remaining. From there, the 'Roos would hit 8-of-8 from the free throw line in the final two minutes, and a bucket by Collins sealed things with 12 seconds left. 

The 20-rebound performance by Frank was the second time in the last three games she's notched at least 20 boards, and with 19 points that makes her fifth straight double-double. She added three blocked shots and two steals in the win. Savage finished with 12 points and handed out seven assists while coming away with three steals, and Lewis scored 10 points with four steals to round out the 'Roos in double-figures in the scoring column. 

Torbet scored 14 points with nine rebounds and Gertz added 13 points and eight boards, while Jade Odom scored 10 points with eight rebounds for the Tigers. Colorado College shot 37.3% from the field but 53.3% from three-point range.

Austin College had a 44-36 advantage on the glass, while forcing the Tigers into 19 turnovers. The 'Roos also hit 17-of-18 from the free throw line in the game.

The 'Roos are back in action in Hughey Gym when they host the University of Dallas with tipoff set for 6:00 p.m.

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