'Roo Women's Hoops Edged by TLU

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College women's basketball team dropped a 62-57 decision to Texas Lutheran on Tuesday evening in Hughey Gym, bringing the 'Roos to 6-11 overall and 5-4 in SCAC competition.

Austin College shot just 35% from the field and made 25% from long range, while Texas Lutheran hit 43.1% from the floor and 40% from beyond the arc. The 'Roos turned the ball over just 11 times while forcing the Bulldogs into 17 giveaways, but Texas Lutheran used an 18-6 edge in points off the bench and got 19 second half points from Jayla Santa Maria to pull away down the stretch. Santa Maria finished with 23 to lead all scorers, including six points in the final two minutes to help the Bulldogs hold off a last minute comeback attempt.

Texas Lutheran led 11-10 after the opening quarter, and the Bulldogs seemed to be headed into halftime holding a 28-26 lead before Natalie McCoy drilled a three at the buzzer to put the 'Roos on top 29-28 at the break. The score was square at 42 apiece just before the end of the third quarter, when Santa Maria banked in a three to put the Bulldogs ahead 45-42 heading to the fourth. After the Bulldogs took a 47-42 lead early in the fourth, Austin College battled back and Kacie West knocked down a three to even things up at 47 with 7:20 left, but the 'Roos would go more than six minutes without another basket as TLU took a 51-47 lead. The margin expanded to 58-49 with a under a minute remaining, and Austin College was unable to make up the deficit in the final moments.

McCoy led Austin College with 18 points and added eight assists, and West added 12. Sarah Putnicki had 11 points and eight rebounds, while Lauren Traylor chipped in seven points and seven boards. Santa Maria was the lone Bulldog to reach double figures, making 8-of-14 shots to get her 23 points.