Women's Hoops Tops St. Thomas

HOUSTON, Texas - The Austin College women's basketball team used big first and fourth quarters to bounce back from their first loss of the season and earn a 63-46 win at St. Thomas on Saturday, bringing the team's overall record to 5-1 on the year.

The 'Roos got 15 points apiece from Ally Longaker and Kacie West, and Reagan Chiaverini notched her second double-double of the weekend with 11 points and 10 boards in the win. Austin College got out to a quick start, scoring four quick points to go on top 4-0 and the lead grew to 9-4 on a basket by Kacie West. St. Thomas trimmed it to 9-7 before the 'Roos closed the quarter with an 8-0 run to take a 17-7 lead into the second. St. Thomas took advantage of six second quarter turnovers by the 'Roos to chip away at the lead, with the teams going into halftime with Austin College on top 30-22, and the margin narrowed to 42-39 after three.

Austin College hit just 5-of-18 shots in the quarter and committed six more turnovers, while the Celts hit 53.8% of their shot attempt to outscore the 'Roos 17-12 in the third. However, the 'Roos got back on track in the fourth, with Longaker taking over and scoring eight of the team's 21 points in the quarter to help seal the victory. Austin College limited St. Thomas to just 2-of-15 shooting in the final 10 minutes.

Longaker hit 7-of-11 shots to get her 15 points and added eight rebounds, while West was 5-of-9 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line. Lauren Traylor came off the bench to chip in nine points and four rebounds for the 'Roos.