Huge Closure in 2nd Half and Regular Season lift Women's Basketball on Senior Day
IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas women's basketball team (14-11, 7-7 SCAC) outscored Austin College (10-14, 5-9 SCAC) by 16 in the second half and were able to celebrate "Senior Day" with a 90-81 victory on Saturday afternoon at the Maher Athletic Center.
Dallas ended a three-game slide, as the squad finished two points away from matching a season-best scoring output on the year and against a conference foe. With the victory, the Navy and White secured the No.5-Seed in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) and will face No.4-Seed Schreiner University next Friday in the SCAC Quarterfinals.
The Roos' attempted to spoil the big day for a quartet of Lady Crusaders being recognized prior to tip-off on the special afternoon. Among those in the group included: Briana Bricher (Gilbert, Ariz.), Marlenya Bustamante (Donna, Texas), Chelsea Cole (Mission, Texas), and Brooke Hagemann (Oklahoma City, Okla.).
Austin College jump started a 64.3-percent opening stanza shooting effort from the field with a 14-3 run before UD called a timeout. The home team began connecting on shots of its own, but Dallas was unable to halt a scorching effort from the Maroon and Gold.
The Lady Crusaders trailed the entire half and often were limited to near a double-digit deficit most of the frame, but was able to nip the margin at 50-43 going into the break.
Both teams were pouring in three-pointers with each shooting around 55 percent from downtown in the first half. AC drained six while the Navy and White hit five during the first 20-minute stretch.
Dallas rallied in the second frame to capture its eighth win at the friendly confines this campaign. Trailing by eight with 8:34, the home squad rattled off 10 unanswered points to capture its first advantage of the affair, 72-70.
Hagemann and Bustamante teamed up on the sequence with the fast break layup and assist, respectively, to put UD ahead. The senior tandem notched 20-point days with Hagemann sending in 21 for a game-high. Bustamante was right there contributing 20.
Freshman Helen Onyenso (Oak Park, Ill.) lifted the Lady Crusaders for the final time of the afternoon with a shot off an offensive rebound.
Dallas shot 47.6-percent from both the floor and three-point land on the game. Sophomore Sammi Tso (Las Vegas, Nev.) chipped in 17 points and joined Bustamante with four assists apiece.
Freshman Michelle DeCoud (Monument, Colo.) nearly clinched a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds – a team best.
For Austin College, Briana Harvey's 11 points and game-high 16 rebounds landed her a double-double. Kendall Heitmeier paced the offense with 20 points, while Christina Kime and Kali Vittallo added 15 and 13, respectively.
STAT OF THE DAY
Dallas managed a 28-10 scoring stretch in the final 8:34 to lock up an impressive comeback against the Roos' on Saturday.
UP NEXT
Dallas turns its attention to the SCAC Tournament on Feb. 27-March 1, which will be hosted by the Maher Athletic Center in Irving, Texas.
The Lady Crusaders take the home court on that Friday with first tip at 1 p.m. versus Schreiner. The winner will move on to play No. 1-Seed, Southwestern University on the 28th.
Please check back with www.udallasathletics.com and www.scacsports.com for more updates.
