'Roo Women Hold Off Southwestern

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College women's basketball team led Southwestern from start to finish, but the 'Roos had to hold off a late comeback bid by the Pirates to emerge with a 66-59 victory to stay unbeaten on Friday night in Hughey Gym. The 'Roos are now 3-0 on the year with the win.

Ally Longaker scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds to pace Austin College, as the 'Roos jumped out to a 7-2 lead early and wrapped up the opening quarter on top by a score of 18-13. Austin College limited the Pirates to 5-of-16 shooting in the opening frame with Southwestern also hitting just 1-of-6 from beyond the arc heading into the second quarter. The 'Roos had their best offensive quarter of the game in the second, pouring in 24 points to extend their advantage to 42-30 at halftime. The Austin College lead was 28-25 before six unanswered points kickstarted a 14-5 run heading into halftime.

A basket by Kacie West early in the second half made it 46-33, but Austin College would struggle to get anything going in the third, mustering only eight points in the frame on 3-of-15 shooting, including 0-of-3 from beyond the arc. Southwestern managed just 10 points in the quarter, and the 'Roos went into the fourth holding a 50-40 edge over the Pirates. Austin College would open the fourth with a three-point-play from Longaker to push the margin to 53-40, and a few minutes later another basket from Longaker gave the 'Roos their largest lead of the game at 57-42 with 6:22 left to play.

Sarah Gwin knocked down a three with 1:44 left to keep things in double digits at 64-51, but Southwestern would begin to chip away at the deficit down the stretch, pulling to within six on a three-point-play by Noel Pratts with 24 seconds left to make it 65-59. However, that's as close as things would get and Austin College would hold on for the victory in the closing moments.

Longaker hit 8-of-15 shots from the field to get her 21 points, adding a pair of blocks along with her nine boards. West finished with 14 points, five rebounds, four steals, and three assists, and Reagan Chiaverini scored 11. Gwin finished the game with 10 points, and Addison Walling pulled down nine rebounds for Austin College. 

Pratts paced Southwestern with 17 points and nine rebounds, and Lauren Fulenwider scored 14 as the only other Pirate to reach double figures. Taylor Carney scored eight points and pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds off the bench.

Austin College and Southwestern will be back at it again tomorrow with tip time set for 1:00 p.m. in Hughey Gym.