Women’s Basketball falls in OT to UC Santa Cruz

ORANGE, Calif. – The University of Dallas women's basketball team (11-10) was defeated on Saturday afternoon -- the first day of the Division III Independents Round Robin held on the campus of Chapman University -- by UC Santa Cruz in overtime, 76-70. 

At halftime, the Lady Crusaders trailed UC Santa Cruz, 36-31. Dallas in the opening half shot 40 percent (12-of-30) from the field, while the Banana Slugs shot 43.8 percent (14-of-32).  

Down 57-47 with 6:47 remaining in regulation, the Lady Crusaders needed a spark, and senior forward Cara Sczepanski (Highland Village, Texas/Marcus H.S.) provided it, scoring 13 of Dallas' final 14 points, including the tying bucket to send the game into overtime. Sczepanski tallied a game-high 29 points, and also recorded eight rebounds.  

Sophomore guard Kylie Yoshimura (Temple City, Calif./Mark Keppel H.S.) was also instrumental in the attempted comeback effort, as she finished the game with 21 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals.  

Dallas, in the second half, was able to hold the Banana Slugs to 22.2 percent (6-of-27) shooting from the field, while the Crusaders made 34.6 percent (9-of-26) in the period.  

In overtime, UC Santa Cruz's Kelly Gregg put home a three-pointer to begin scoring. Yoshimura countered with a made jumper the ensuing trip up the floor. Then, the Banana Slugs poured in yet another three-pointer, this time from Danielle Mofsowitz. After some back-and-forth, UC Santa Cruz escaped with a six point victory.  

The Lady Crusaders will wrap up play in the DIII Independents Round Robin on Sunday, when they take on host team Chapman University at 3:00 p.m. in Orange, Calif.