UST Uses Big Third Quarter to Best Women's Hoops

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College women's basketball team built a nine point halftime lead, but the University of St. Thomas outscored the 'Roos 26-9 in the third on their way to downing AC 62-54 on Saturday evening in Hughey Gym. The 'Roos are now 2-6 overall and 1-1 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

Austin College went on top 4-0 to open the game, but St. Thomas used an 8-0 run to go on top with a little over six minutes left in the opening period. Lexi Martin, Lauren Traylor, and Megan O'Neil hit threes for Austin College to put the 'Roos up 13-8, and they'd take a 14-12 lead into the second quarter. An early three by Grace Moothart made it 19-12 early in the second, and after UST cut it to 19-16, Martin scored five quick points to push the margin to 24-16 with 4:44 left before halftime. The Celts fought back and cut it to 27-25 on a three from Audrey Hernandez with 2:31 on the clock, but Austin College finished the half strong, scoring seven unanswered to head into the locker room leading 34-25.

The Celts got hot from long range early in the third quarter, using three triples to help cut the deficit to 36-34. Austin College maintained a slim lead, going on top 41-38, but UST's Kareena Aragon came up with a steal under the basket and converted a three-point play to even things up at 41 apiece with 3:28 left in the quarter. That kick-started a 13-2 run for the Celts, and they'd head into the fourth quarter leading 51-43. The Celts took their largest lead of the game at 58-48 on a three by Hernandez midway through the fourth before Austin College responded with a 6-0 run capped by a basket from Amarys Cuellar to cut it to 58-54 with 2:14 remaining but those would be the last points of the game for the 'Roos.

Martin led the 'Roos with 16 points and Traylor added 14 points, five assists, five steals, and four rebounds. Cuellar had 11 points and five boards for Austin College, as the 'Roos shot just 33.3% from the field and committed 20 turnovers. St. Thomas hit 46.8% from the field and 45% from deep, and had a 19-5 advantage in bench points. Hernandez hit 5-of-7 threes on her way to a game-high 17 points to pace the Celts.