SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College women's basketball team opened up Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play against Centenary College on Friday night, topping the Ladies 68-55 behind 18 points and 11 rebounds from Brooklyn Matthews. The 'Roos are now 2-5 overall and 1-0 in conference play.

Austin College got out to a fast start behind the three point shooting of Lexi Martin, who went 3-for-3 from long range in the first four minutes of action to help the 'Roos build a 14-3 lead with just over two minutes left in the first quarter. Centenary rebounded with a 6-2 run to close the period, and the 'Roos went into the second leading 16-9. Austin College pushed the margin back to double-digits early in the second quarter, and Martin knocked down another triple to make it 24-14 with 6:55 left before halftime. The Ladies scored six unanswered to make it a four point game before Martin hit her fifth three in as many attempts to make it 27-20 with 3:35 on the clock. That trey kicked off a 10-0 run that gave Austin College a 34-20 lead, and the 'Roos would head into the locker room leading 34-23.

The 'Roos led 42-32 with under five minutes left in the third quarter, but Centenary battled back to trim it to 43-38 with 2:44 remaining. Amarys Cuellar converted a three-point-play, and after TaNyjah Plumber hit a triple, Naomi Anamekwe hit a short jumper in the lane just before the buzzer sounded to send the 'Roos into the final period leading 48-41. Avory Miller came off the bench to score all nine of her points in the final period, and Matthews scored nine of her points in the frame as Austin College shot 72.7% from the field as a team to pull away down the stretch and earn the 68-55 victory.

Matthews hit 8-of-12 shots from the floor and added a pair of blocked shots, and Martin finished 5-of-9 from the field and 5-of-8 from deep on her way to 16 points. Lauren Traylor posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while also adding five assists, and Cuellar chipped in nine points and five boards. Grace Moothart tied Traylor for the team lead with five assists. Plumber paced Centenary with 17 points and Amiyah Barrow added 11 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Austin College is back on the court tomorrow as they host the University of St. Thomas at 6:00 p.m. in Hughey Gym.