'Roo Women Top Pirates to Stay Perfect

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College women's basketball team edged out visiting Southwestern University on Saturday, topping the Pirates 75-72 to stay unbeaten and improve to 4-0 on the year.

Austin College got off to a hot start, racing out to an 18-9 lead after a first quarter in which they held the Pirates to 2-of-17 shooting, but Southwestern outscored the 'Roos 22-19 in the second quarter to get the margin down to 37-31 heading into halftime. Lauren Fulenwider hit 3-of-5 from deep for Southwestern in the quarter to get the Pirates to within three points late, but Sarah Gwin tossed in a buzzer-beater from nearly three-quarters court to give Austin College a six point cushion at the break.

Southwestern got the momentum back in the third quarter, with Noel Pratts scoring nine points while Austin College managed to hit just 6-of-18 shots from the floor in the period. The Pirates pulled to within one point late in the quarter, and the 'Roos would hold just a 49-48 lead heading into the fourth. Megan O'Neil opened up the fourth quarter with a three to push the Austin College lead to 52-48 but Fulenwider answered with a triple of her own, and the 'Roos and Pirates would trade baskets over the next few minutes until a three from Kacie West and a bucket by Ally Longaker made it 63-56 with 5:37 to play.

A three from Emily Edwards pulled Southwestern to within one at 67-66 with 3:37 on the clock, and Fulenwider drilled another trey to even things up at 69 apiece with 1:29 remaining. Gwin knocked down a midrange jumper to put Austin College back on top 24 seconds later, and the 'Roos would hold off the Pirates down the stretch with Fulenwider missing a three at the buzzer to make it a 75-72 final.

West hit 7-of-10 shots from the field to pace Austin College with 20 points, and Gwin went 9-of-14 to add 19 points and three assists. Longaker notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, adding four assists in the victory as Austin College shot 46.9% from the field as a team. 

Fulenwider led all scorers with 28 points, hitting 8-of-14 attempts from long distance, and Pratts added 17 points. Reece Sandercock chipped in 12 points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds for the Pirates in the loss.