Women's Basketball cannot slip by the Patriots on Thursday
IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas women's basketball team (13-11) dropped a 78-73 contest versus Arlington Baptist College (21-5) on Thursday evening at the Maher Athletic Center. It's the third-straight setback for Dallas, who will look to bounce back on Saturday against Austin College.
Arlington Baptist, who won its 13th affair in a row, would shoot 48.3-percent from the floor and utilized a 40-36 halftime edge to carry momentum throughout the second frame.
In a game that did feature four ties and 14 lead changes, the Lady Crusaders never were in front once in the latter stanza of the night.
The Patriots opened a 7-2 run in the first minute and a half, but UD would counter with eight in a row to gain its first lead of the night. The mini spurt featured two trifectas by sophomore Sammi Tso (Las Vegas, Nev.) who had 12 points and tied a team-high three assists.
Also contributing a trio of assists to help makeup the Navy and White's 15 in the stats were freshmen Michelle DeCoud (Monument, Colo.), Jessica Foster (Oklahoma City, Okla.), and Helen Onyenso (Oak Park, Ill.).
After ABC went ahead with a trey, the home squad notched six unanswered points go extend its largest advantage of the night, 16-11). The Red, White, and Blue nipped away and would regain the edge 19-18 on a pair of Rosalyn Thorpe free throws.
From there on until the break, neither group could capture much momentum and be ahead more than a possession. Hannah McGaughy shifted the momentum going into the locker room with a three-pointer lifting Arlington Baptist to what the display was on the halftime scoreboard.
In the second half, Dallas kept the Patriots where they needed to be, but would be unable to mount enough to get over the top. A pair of times in the final five minutes, the Lady Crusaders cut the margin to four points, but that gap with 2:42 remaining was the closest things would be.
Thorpe was a difference maker in this one, landing a game-high 22 points and 14 rebounds for a double-double. She also contributed in several categories with seven blocks and dished out four assists.
UD placed a double-double individual of its own with sophomore Seana Stoia (Tulsa, Okla.) claiming 18 points for a season-most and 10 boards. It's the forward's first double-double of the campaign.
Senior Brooke Hagemann (Oklahoma City, Okla.) chipped in 16 points, while fellow classmate Marleyna Bustamante (Donna, Texas) contributed 15. DeCoud added to her team-lead on rebounds by nearly cracking double-digits in that category for the fifth time this season. It's the second-straight contest the rookie forward has missed the mark by one.
Off the bench, Foster grabbed seven rebounds and Onyenso swiped a season-high five steals. Stoia also snatched four to contribute to the squad's 17 overall.
The Patriots had a quartet of players in double figures for scoring. Joining Thorpe were Morgan Hale with 17, Jade Johnson with 21, and Tori Wise with 11. Hale also pulled down eight rebounds.
WITHIN THE NUMBERS
Dallas forced 26 turnovers while creating 18 miscues of its own. Rebounds were nearly even 42-41 in favor of Arlington Baptist. The road team edged UD in assists, 18-15. All seven blocks compared the single rejection by Dallas came from Thorpe.
UP NEXT
Dallas wraps up the regular season on Feb. 21 versus Austin College at the Maher Athletic Center. Tip-off is slated at 2 p.m. and will be "Senior Day" for the Lady Crusaders. The contest will also be recognized as the "Play4Kay" game, with players wearing pink.