HOUSTON – The Celts of the University of St. Thomas celebrated Senior Day in style Sunday as they upset 20th-ranked Austin College 87-78.
At UST's Jerabeck Center, Sheridan Hopkins (Galveston, Texas / Ball) scored 27 points and pulled in 13 rebounds in her final home game to lead the Celts (20-5, 15-3 SCAC) to victory.
Fellow senior Bresha Orange (Longview, Texas / Panola College) scored 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Celts. Senior transfer Jazz Taylor (Duncanville, Texas / Abilene Christian) chipped in 11 points, six rebounds and eight assists, while Aerial Starks (Houston, Texas /A&M Consolidated) added 12 points off the UST bench.
With the win, the Celts finished the regular season in second place in the SCAC standings behind Trinity. Austin College (21-4), which was ranked 20th in the latest Women's Basketball Coaches Association Division III poll, fell to 14-4 in conference play.
A 28-point second quarter vaulted the Celts into a 39-24 halftime lead. The visiting Kangaroos put forth a spirited comeback after halftime and trailed the Celts 57-51 heading into the fourth quarter.
Consecutive baskets from AC's Reagan Chiaverini pulled the 'Roos to within three points with 2:09 remaining in the game. After the teams traded empty possessions, Hopkins got free for a big fast-break layup off a Taylor assist to stretch UST's lead to 76-71 with 1:21 left to play.
Austin College missed two shots on its next possession, and when UST got the ball back with less than a minute remaining, head coach Jae Cross opted for a timeout to move the ball to the front court. The in-bounds pass went to Orange, who broke free and was fouled by Ally Longaker. The foul was ruled intentional, giving the Celts the ball back after Orange sank her free throws.
With the Celts up 78-71 with 51 seconds left and still holding the ball, the 'Roos then fouled Hopkins, who sank two more free throws to build UST's lead back to nine points. AC never got closer than seven points the rest of the way.
During halftime of the men's game, the women's team honored Hopkins, Orange, Taylor, and fellow senior Briana De Los Santos.
The Celts finished the regular season having won 12 of their last 13 games. Their 20-5 record is the program's best season in history.
UST is in its first season of transition from the NAIA to the NCAA's Division III, and is ineligible for the SCAC and NCAA postseasons. However, the Celts also hold dual affiliation with the United States Collegiate Athletic Association and will qualify for that organization's postseason tournament; the Celts are currently the No. 1-ranked team in the USCAA's Division I.
Bids for the USCAA Tournament will be announced March 3. Information about the Celts' trip to the postseason will be announced on USTCelts.com and on the athletics Twitter account, @USTAthletics.
