Career-Game for DeCoud; Lady Crusaders end Year with Overtime Setback at Austin College

(Photo Courtesy of Joe Fausco, d3photography.com)

Dallas took an early 12-10 lead after the first quarter concluded. It was back-and-forth with the Navy and White ahead by four with 3:30 minutes left. That juncture was the largest difference at that point, and junior Holly Tonry (Seattle, Wash.) lifted the Lady Crusaders with the final field goal on either side with 23 seconds until the first break.

The second set of 10 minutes started with UD's junior Seana Stoia (Tulsa, Okla.) hitting a jump shot after an Austin College miss. Next, a home squad 9-0 run that was capped by Olivia Bailey's three-pointer pushed her team up 18-14 with about four minutes until halftime. AC led 25-23 at intermission.

In the third quarter, the 'Roos pulled out to a 37-30 edge with 3:27 remaining, but two three-pointers by junior Lindsey Gendron (Houston, Texas) accounted for consecutive made baskets for the guests. Austin College closed the quarter on a 7-0 scoring span with Bailey notching the final five points and the last three on a trey with 40 seconds.

11 of the first 13 points over the opening four minutes of the final regular quarter gave UD a one-point lead (47-46). Sophomore Michelle DeCoud (Monument, Colo.) was responsible for nine points and etched 10 in a row as that stretch carried over to around the mid-way portion of the 10-minute stanza.

With the Lady Crusaders up 50-48 and 3:23 in the contest, AC's Bryce Frank made one of two at the free throw line. Sophomore Helen Onyenso (Oak Park, Ill.) also made the second free throw to complete a split at the stripe. DeCoud's layup after her own rebound propelled Dallas up 53-49 and 2:27 remaining.

Kaili Vittallo cut Austin College's gap to one (53-52) on a trifecta and then a free throw on the second attempt at the line tied things with 55 seconds. Stoia and Vittallo made both of their free throws for the respective teams and, Gendron's last second three was off the mark to send things to overtime.

The Lady Crusaders drew the first advantage on a pair of free throws from Stoia, but three-pointers from Vittallo and Kendall Heitmeier swung the momentum in favor of the Maroon and Gold. After DeCoud's layup with 3:55, Dallas only scored on another inside shot by the forward with 1:20 left and that knotted the game 61-all. AC went three-of-four at the free throw line to seal the final score.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

- DeCoud paced the Lady Crusaders with a personal best 28 points, and tied a career-high in made field goals (12-of-23). Her previous career-best was one point less on January 18, 2015 at Colorado College.

- The game's leading scorer also notched her fifth double-double with a career-best 16 rebounds (12 defensive). It was DeCoud's seventh contest to break double figures in boards and 14th out of 17 games to eclipse that mark in points.

- Stoia followed with 19 points, which ties her third highest scoring total this season for the second time. She also hit three of UD's five treys and was 3-of-4 overall from that distance.

- Tonry was right behind DeCoud with a personal best 14 rebounds, as the duo combined for 30 of the team's 50 on the evening. The SCAC-leader in assists added five to finish the campaign with 95.

- The team grabbed the highest rebounding total against a league opponent this year and missed only one free throw (14-of-15) for the second time this season. The other came at home versus Centenary College on Jan. 16.

- Austin College enjoyed a 27-8 edge in points from the bench and won the turnover battle 16-12. The 'Roos struggled from the field but were dynamite in three-pointers with 10 made, and a 47.6 percentage.  

- Leading the home team was Vittallo with 18 points and a 5-of-7 effort in threes. Heitmeier nearly had a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds. Frank chipped in 12 points from the bench and dished seven assists.

UP NEXT

Dallas has wrapped up the 2016 season.