'Roo Women Edged by Dallas in SCAC Opener

SHERMAN, Texas – The Austin College women's basketball team had a chance for the win late but couldn't convert, falling 64-63 to the visiting University of Dallas on Saturday afternoon in Hughey Gym. The 'Roos are now 5-6 overall this season and 0-1 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

The teams traded baskets to open the game, with a Kendall Heitmeier three pointer giving the 'Roos an 11-8 lead with 14:07 on the clock. After the Crusaders came back to cut it to a one point lead, Kali Vittallo buried a trey of her own to push the Austin College lead to 18-14 with 10:33 left before halftime.

Vittallo hit another three and added a pair of free throws to give Austin College its biggest lead of the game at 26-19 with 6:32 remaining in the opening half, but a 12-0 run for the Crusaders put the 'Roos in a 31-26 hole with 54 seconds left before the break. Vittallo knocked down another jumper to cut it to a 31-28 halftime deficit.

Sammi Tso's three pointer put the Crusaders up 36-28 early in the second half, and after a Jenna Longo three cut it to a 42-37 game, Dallas would score the next seven points to go ahead 49-37 with 13:56 left to play. The Dallas lead grew to as much as 14 at 60-46 on a Brooke Hagemann basket with 8:58 on the clock.

A three pointer from Longo and back to back buckets from Erin Riley helped pull the 'Roos to within three at 62-59 with 4:09 left, and two minutes later a basket by Heitmeier cut it to a 64-63 game. That remained the score heading into the final moments when the 'Roos had one more chance for the win, but Austin College was unable to convert on a last second attempt.

Longo hit 5-of-7 shots to finish with a team-high 13 points for Austin College, while Christina Kime added 12 points, five boards, and four assists. Vittallo finished with 12 points, Heitmeier added nine, and Riley pulled down 11 rebounds in the loss.

Marleyna Bustamante led all scorers with 19 for the Crusaders, adding seven rebounds and two assists. Hagemann finished with 15 points and seven boards, and Seana Stoia chipped in 12.

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