SHERMAN, Texas – The Austin College women's basketball team took a three point lead into halftime, but the University of Texas-Dallas used a 16-5 run early in the second half to take control and the 'Roos were unable to come back, falling 72-65 on Thursday afternoon. The 'Roos are now 5-5 overall this season.
The Comets jumped out to an early 7-2 lead before three pointers from Katie Gowdy and Christina Kime helped make it a 9-8 game with 14:25 to play, and the 'Roos would take their first lead of the game on a triple from Erin Riley to make it 16-15 with 8:20 on the clock. Another basket by Riley pushed it to a three point margin, and a three point play from Kendall Heitmeier made it a 21-17 game with 6:34 left before the break.
UTD battled back and grabbed a 23-21 lead but three pointers from Kime and Heitmeier helped give the lead back to Austin College at 31-28, and after a pair of free throws for the Comets, Kime sliced into the lane and dropped in a layup with just a few seconds remaining in the opening half to send the 'Roos into the locker room leading 33-30.
Austin College got a pair of free throws from Riley to make it a 37-36 advantage early in the second half but that's when UTD's Madi Hess took control, knocking down three triples to push the Comet lead to 47-42 with 14:39 left. Hess then found Emily Price for a corner three and got to the rim for a layup to make it a 52-42 game with 13:10 remaining.
Heitmeier answered with five quick points to bring the 'Roos to within four at 55-51 with 9:24 left, but two buckets from Ashley Shaw helped UTD get the margin back to double-digits at 61-51. Jenna Longo beat the shot clock with a three pointer for Austin College, Brianna Harvey scored four in a row to help Austin College cut it to a 61-59 game with 3:56 to play but once again Hess had an answer, getting another driving basket to push it back to a four point lead.
Austin College would cut it to four points at 67-63 with 34 seconds left on a rebound and bucket from Harvey, but that's as close as the 'Roos would get.
Heitmeier finished with a career-best 24 points, hitting 8-of-16 shots overall and 4-of-6 from long distance, and Kime finished with 12. Riley had nine points, six boards, and four assists, and Harvey finished with eight points and eight rebounds in the loss.
Hess led the Comets with 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-7 from deep, and added six assists and three boards. Amber Brown chipped in 14, Shaw finished with 13, and Price hit 3-of-6 from long distance on her way to 11.
Austin College jumps into Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play on Saturday when they host the University of Dallas at 2:00 p.m. in Hughey Gym.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.