Hot-Shooting 'Roos Hold Off Schreiner

SHERMAN, Texas - Grace Moothart knocked down eight three pointers and the Austin College women's basketball team finished with 12 makes overall, as the 'Roos held off visiting Schreiner University 73-68 on Saturday evening in Hughey Gym. The 'Roos are now 6-14 overall and 5-7 in SCAC play.

Moothart finished the game 8-of-16 from beyond the arc, scoring a career-high 24 points and moving into a tie for fifth all-time in single game made triples in SCAC history. The 'Roos took a 16-12 lead after the opening quarter, with Moothart hitting 3-of-4 froom deep to help put Austin College to an early edge. The margin grew to 30-18 on a jumper by Raylee McDonald with 3:43 left before halftime, but the Mountaineers came charging back, closing the half with a 12-2 run to cut it to a 32-30 game at the break.

Brie Sosa put the Mountaineers ahead 33-32 with a triple to open the third period, but the 'Roos responded with a 7-0 run capped by an Amarys Cuellar layup. However, the Mountaineers answered with a run of their own, scoring the next 10 points to take a 43-39 lead with 5:32 left in the quarter. The teams would traded baskets and the lead for the rest of the quarter, before a bucket by McDonald squared things up at 50 apiece going into the fourth. Demauria Miles knocked down a three at the start of the final period to put Schreiner on top, but threes from Lexi Martin and Moothart gave the 'Roos a 56-53 edge with just over six minutes left to play.

The 'Roos led 62-57 with 3:32 remaining after a basket by Lauren Traylor, but the Mountaineers fought back and Miles once again knotted things up at 62 with 2:16 on the clock. Cuellar buried a clutch three to give the leaad back to the 'Roos, and Traylor scored with 45 seconds left to make it 67-62. Two free throws by Traylor put Austin College on top 69-62 with 26 seconds left, and the 'Roos held on from there despite two more late threes from Miles, who led all scorers with 30 points and made 6-of-13 from deep. Cuellar had 13 points and eight rebounds for Austin College, and Traylor padded the box score with 12 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and two steals. 

The win gives Austin College a season sweep over the Mountaineers, and keeps the 'Roos in the sixth position in the SCAC standings as they continue to battle for a spot in the six-team SCAC Tournament in February.