Women's Hoops Advances to SCAC Semifinals

SHERMAN, Texas - The No. 5-seeded Austin College women's basketball team advanced to the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Semifinals on Friday with a 69-55 win over No. 4-seed Schreiner University. The 'Roos are now 10-15 overall on the year.

Natalie McCoy poured in 26 points to pace Austin College, making 6-of-11 from the field and 13-of-15 from the free throw line. Austin College won all four quarters in the game, getting out to a 20-14 lead after the first and extending it to a 36-29 lead heading into halftime. The 'Roos got out to a 10-1 lead early, and then after Schreiner had battled back to trim it to 30-29 late in the second, McCoy scored six in a row to end the period and give Austin College its seven point cushion at the break.

Kacie West knocked down a pair of jumpers, including a triple, as the 'Roos took a 41-33 lead in the third and baskets by Sarah Gwin and Sarah Putnicki put Austin College on top 49-36 with 4:08 left in the third. The 'Roos pushed the margin to 52-38 before four points from the Mountaineers to end the quarter, sending the teams into the fourth with Austin College ahead 52-42. Schreiner would pull to within six at 54-48 with 6:14 to play, but the 'Roos took control from there and a three point play by McCoy, followed by another basket from the senior guard, made it a 64-52 game. Free throws from West extended the margin to 66-52 with 1:41 left, and the 'Roos would cruise from there.

McCoy added seven rebounds and a pair of assists, while West finished with 11 points, six boards, and three steals. Putnicki chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds, and also had a pair of blocked shots. Schreiner hounded the 'Roos into 25 turnovers and grabbed 23 offensive rebounds, but the Mountaineers shot just 26.4% from the field and turned it over 21 times themselves. Elisa Peralta paced Schreiner with 13 points off the bench.

Austin College is back in action tomorrow night against top-seeded Trinity, with tip time set for 5:00 p.m. in Hughey Gym.