'Team effort' pushes Women's Basketball past Pomona-Pitzer College (CA) in David Wells Classic

CLAREMONT, Calif. - The University of Dallas women's basketball team (2-1) gritted their way to a 67-62 victory Friday evening over Pomona-Pitzer College in day one of the David Wells Classic. 

Leading by as many as nine points in the opening half, Pomona-Pitzer (0-1) took a 27-21 advantage into halftime. 

Dallas converted 17-of-34 (50 percent) from the field in the second-half, and boasted an eight-point lead with 10:56 remaining. 

With neither team able to separate on the scoreboard, both dug in for the long haul. 

The bout was tied for a fifth time when Pomona-Pitzer's Ruthie Shapiro made a pair of free-throws with 4:12 to go in regulation.

Pomona-Pitzer thrived at the charity-stripe on the night, netting 24-of-28 (85.7 percent) to Dallas' 12-of-20 (60 percent).

Knotted 58-58, the Lady Crusaders took control with a 9-4 run over the final 3:40. 

Sophomore guard Christina Kurt (Katy, Texas) tallied seven points in this stretch to tie for a game-high 16 points with Pomona-Pitzer's Erin Edmonds. 

Junior post Christy Allen (Burton, Mich.) had 13 points and nine rebounds in 33 minutes, while sophomore guard Brooke Hagemann (Oklahoma City, Okla.) totalled 14 points and seven rebounds in 29 minutes.

Also a key cog in victory for Dallas was senior guard Kylie Yoshimura (Temple City, Calif.) who contributed 13 points and 11 assists in 35 minutes to help Dallas to a 32-16 points-in-the-paint advantage. 

Yoshimura now has 439 career assists, just three shy of the school career-record 442 held by Kristy Malone. 

Next opponent: 

Dallas continues play in the David Wells Classic, sparring with Claremont-Mudd-Scripps College (1-2) at 7 p.m. PST on Saturday.