Offensive Woes Doom 'Roo Women's Basketball

The Austin College women's basketball team shot 33% from the field and turned the ball over 20 times and the 'Roos were unable to overcome an eight point halftime deficit against visiting Texas Lutheran on Sunday, as the 'Roos fell 64-53. Austin College drops to 9-7 overall and 4-2 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play with the loss.

The 'Roos jumped out to an early 6-0 lead following a Christina Kime three pointer, but Texas Lutheran answered with an 11-0 run to make it 11-6 with 11:52 left in the opening half. The 'Roos fought back to pull within two at 12-10, but the Bulldogs pushed the lead back to 17-10 on a Bianca Casas basket with 7:47 on the clock.

Kime knocked down a three to make it a four point game, but Texas Lutheran pushed the lead to 26-18 with 1:59 left and maintained the eight point margin with a 28-20 halftime cushion. Austin College shot just 21% from the field in the opening half and turned the ball over 11 times before the break.

Kime drilled a pair of threes to open the second half and pull Austin College to within 31-28, but the Bulldogs pushed the lead back to 41-33 on a three from Savannah Hight with 12:19 left. After another Hight basket made it 47-39, the 'Roos pulled to within two after a pair of threes from Riley made it 50-48 with 5:14 remaining. TLU responded by scoring the next eight points, however, pushing the lead to double-digits with 1:37 remaining, and the 'Roos were unable to get the margin under 10 the rest of the way.

The 'Roos got 18 points from Kime, who knocked down 4-of-9 threes and added three assists in the loss. Riley finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds for her second straight double-double, and Brittany Stepanski added 10 points, six boards, and four assists. Brooke Melton added 10 rebounds and five assists.

Hight came off the bench to lead the Bulldogs with 16 points, hitting 4-of-5 from long range, and Karisa Cantu added 12. Texas Lutheran got 47 of its 64 points from its bench players.

Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.

About Austin College

Austin College is a leading national independent residential liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas. Founded in 1849, making it the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original charter and name, the college is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Recognized nationally for academic excellence in the areas of international education, pre-professional training, and leadership studies, Austin College is one of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope's influential book Colleges that Change Lives.