Tigers Pull Away Late Against Austin College Women

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College women's basketball team trailed by just six entering the fourth quarter against visiting Colorado College, but the Tigers put up 21 points in the final frame to hand the 'Roos a 58-43 defeat on Friday evening. The 'Roos are now 3-13 overall and 2-6 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

Both teams came out cold to open the game, with Colorado College scoring the first six points before a basket by Brooklyn Matthews made it 6-2 with 6:20 on the clock. That remained the score until the 1:33 mark, when Matthews scored again to cut it to 6-4. The Tigers put four more points on the board before the end of the quarter, heading into the second leading 10-4. Colorado College scored the first basket of the next period, but Austin College used a 12-2 run highlighted by a triple and a three-point-play by Grace Moothart to pull ahead 16-14 with 6:53 on the clock. However, the Tigers answered with a big run of their own, outscoring the 'Roos 10-2 on their way to a 24-18 halftime lead.

The Tigers extended their lead to double figures midway through the third quarter, with Emma Nawara scoring to make it 33-23. Austin College managed to trim it to a 35-31 game on a jumper by Moothart with 1:05 left in the frame, and the Tigers got one more bucket to head into the fourth leading 37-31. The 'Roos remained within striking distance early in the fourth, but Healy Bledsoe's basket with 6:26 made it 46-35. Austin College cut it to a 46-39 game with five and a half minutes to play, but the Tigers used a 12-2 run over the next four minutes to put the game away.

Matthews made 5-of-9 shots and came up just short of a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds to lead Austin College, and Moothart and Kaylee Smith each chipped in eight points in the loss. Lauren Traylor added seven points and six boards. Audrey Bayston led all scorers with 18 points, adding 10 rebounds for Colorado College.