Offensive Explosion Propels 'Roos to Season Opening Win

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College women's basketball team opened the 2023-24 campaign in style on Wednesday evening, topping any of their offensive performances from a year ago in a 93-86 victory over visiting Lyon College in Hughey Gym.

The 'Roos had 10 different players score, including five reaching double digits led by a 19 point performance from Lexi Martin in her collegiate debut. Austin College ended the game hitting 46.6% from the field and 44.4% from long distance as they were able to hold off a late charge by Lyon to come away with the win. The 'Roos got out to a 10-4 lead early after a three from Martin, but the Scots fought back to even things up and the teams would trade baskets for the rest of the quarter, finishing the first with the game all square at 22-22.

Amarys Cuellar and Martin knocked down triples to open the second and make it 28-22, and the margin would grow to 32-24 on a bucket by Brooklyn Matthews with 7:13 left before halftime. Lyon scored the next six to cut it to a 32-28 lead before Austin College extended their lead to 41-31 on a layup by Lauren Traylor with 3:23 left in the period. The 'Roos would ultimately head into the break leading 45-37. Lyon came out red hot in the third and trimmed the deficit to 47-46 with 7:38 on the clock, but Austin College managed to keep the Scots from taking the lead and Megan O'Neil's triple made it 54-50 midway through the quarter. Two more treys from O'Neil pushed it to a 62-54 game two minutes later, but after the 'Roos extended their lead to double-digits, the Scots managed to close the gap to 65-60 heading into the final frame.

The 'Roos took their largest lead of the game at 79-67 on a three from Grace Moothart with 4:40 left to play and the margin would stay in double-figures until under two minutes were left on the clock. Lyon used their full court press to force multiple turnovers in the final minutes to help them bring the margin down to 86-80 but that's as close as things would get the rest of the way. 

Martin hit 6-of-17 from the field, including 2-of-7 from three while knocking down 5-of-6 free throws to get her team-best 19 points, adding six assists and four rebounds in the win. Moothart buried 4-of-7 threes to finish with 16 points and O'Neil hit 5-of-9 from long range to get 15, while Cuellar finished with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting with three assists. Matthews recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds while also handing out five assists, blocking three shots, and coming away with two steals, and Traylor flirted with a triple-double on her way to eight points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists.

Allison Byars led all scorers with 35 points for Lyon, hitting 11-of-27 shots and 13-of-15 from the free throw line while adding seven assists, six rebounds, and five steals, and Samantha Taylor was the lone other Scot to reach double-digits with 20 points on 6-of-19 shooting, hitting all eight of her free throw attempts and adding five steals.

Next up for the 'Roos is a trip to Richardson on November 15, where they'll take on the University of Texas-Dallas at 7:00 p.m.