Free Throws and Defense lift Women's Basketball over Pirates
IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas women's basketball team (10-5, 4-2 SCAC) held on to a thrilling 63-60 victory versus Southwestern University (6-11, 4-2 SCAC) on Friday night at the Maher Athletic Center.
UD's triumph extended a three game-winning streak, and also was the first conference win at home this season. The Navy and White shot 39.3-percent from the field and were able to outscore the Pirates in the second half, 36-31, to snap its three-game slide in the friendly confines.
The Lady Crusaders leapt out to a 5-0 advantage to begin the affair, but Southwestern countered with an 8-2 run to go on top for the first time of the night. Baskets would be exchanged on each side throughout with the game featuring 10 lead changes and six ties.
SU garnered a bit of momentum around the midway point of the opening stanza with an advantage by as many as six on a couple occasions. The home squad posted a 7-2 spurt to cut the deficit 23-22 with 7:03 before the break.
Over the next five minutes the Black and Gold totaled six unanswered points to go in front by seven, the largest margin from either team in the contest. Dallas concluded play just like tip-off started with the final five marks on the scoreboard to trail 29-27 at intermission.
In the latter half, the Lady Crusaders and SU went toe-to-toe never leading by more than four.
With nearly a minute remaining in regulation, senior Marleyna Bustamante (Donna, Texas) drained a pair of free throws to lift UD to a 59-57 edge, which would not be relinquished through the final buzzer.
The guard connected 8-of-8 from the charity stripe, which all formulated the last eight baskets for the home team.
Pacing Dallas with 19 points was freshman Michelle DeCoud (Monument, Colo.). The reigning SCAC Player-of-the-Week picked up right where she left off with her 11th double-digit scoring game and sixth in a row. An impressive 9-of-10 effort for a 90 percent shooting result from the floor aided the forward in netting her second-highest point total of her career.
Just behind with 18 points and a team-leading nine rebounds was Bustamante. Her perfect free throw line marks in the final few possessions provided the game-changing boost in a matchup where she barely missed her first double-double of the year.
Sophomore Seana Stoia (Tulsa, Texas) added 11 points to wrap up the trio of scorers in double figures on the evening.
Southwestern was led by Jordan Owens with a double-double, 18 points and 11 rebounds. Valerie Logan chipped in 13 and Olivia Podaras contributed 11 from the bench.
Annie Bourne grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds and tossed nine points in to finish just below the double-double feat.
The Pirates held a 46-32 rebounding advantage in the contest.
STAT OF THE GAME
UD forced 21 turnovers and swiped 14 steals.
NEXT OPPONENT
Dallas faces Texas Lutheran University tomorrow at 4 p.m.