SHERMAN, Texas –The Austin College women's basketball team got 23 points and 10 rebounds from Bryce Frank and the 'Roos made their free throws late to hold off No. 14-ranked Texas-Dallas on Saturday afternoon in Hughey Gym. This is the first time the 'Roos, who improved to 4-0 with the win, have beaten UTD since November 2012.
The 'Roos and Comets went back and forth early on in the opening quarter, with Addison Walling knocking down a pair of threes to put Austin College ahead 9-8 midway through the period. Texas-Dallas got back on top 12-11 with 3:42 left before Frank made a bucket and Reagan Chiaverini buried a three to make it a 16-12 game. Chiaverini would hit another three and Ally Longaker beat the buzzer with a layup to make it 21-14 after one.
The Comets quickly cut the margin to three before Walling and Frank each scored to make it 25-18, and after UTD had pulled to within two Austin College answered with four quick points to make it 29-23 with 1:18 left before the break. Two free throws from Ann Savage would send the 'Roos into halftime leading 31-24.
Austin College went cold offensively in the third quarter, not getting their first basket until the 6:24 mark when Frank scored to make it 33-29. Both teams struggled to get anything going for the next few minutes, but Chiaverini knocked down her third triple of the game with 2:24 on the clock to give the 'Roos a 38-31 advantage. UTD would chip away at the lead, and a three from Amber Terry with only a few seconds left cut it to a 40-36 game heading to the fourth.
Frank scored the first five points of the fourth for Austin College to make it 45-40, but the Comets battled back and cut it to a 47-46 game with 5:36 left to play. Walling knocked down a three to make it 50-46, but five quick points gave UTD its first lead since the opening quarter at 51-50 with 3:12 left in the game. Frank would score four straight to give the lead back to Austin College, and a pair of free throws from Walling made it 56-53 with 15 seconds left in the game.
After two more free throws from Ann Savage, the Comets were able to cut it to a 58-57 game with four seconds remaining, but Walling iced the game with two more from the stripe.
Frank hit 9-of-16 shots to get her 23 points, and Walling finished the game with 16 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field, including 3-of-4 from deep. Chiaverini hit 3-of-4 three point attempts to finish with nine points, while Savage finished with six points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals.
Raenett Hughes paced UTD with 19 points and added six rebounds, and Katie Gunther had 12 points for the Comets.
Next up for the 'Roos is another home game on November 30, as Austin College takes on Millsaps at 6:00 p.m.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.