Women's Basketball ends Campaign in Quarterfinals against the Mountaineers
IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas women's basketball team (14-12) dropped a 58-53 decision versus Schreiner University (12-13) in game 1 of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) tournament on Friday afternoon.
Dallas was unable to overcome a five-point halftime deficit, as the Mountaineers closed out regulation on a 9-0 run to advance to the Semifinals against the No.1-Seed, Southwestern University on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Similar to the first meeting of the campaign at the Maher Athletic Center on Jan. 9, the Lady Crusaders would battle SU down to the wire. The Maroon and White would prevail in that contest 69-66. Dallas outshot the Mountaineers 40.8-percent to 34-percent from the floor.
Uniquely, each squad chimed in 50-percent from the three-point line, with Schreiner connecting on two more overall with nine. UD committed 22 turnovers in the setback, while forcing the Mountaineers into 18 miscues.
Sophomore Sammi Tso (Las Vegas, Nev.) paced the Lady Crusaders with 17 points, her third time this year and in the past five affairs to garner that total. The Navy and White's leading three-point shooter went five-of-seven from long range that afternoon.
Within the first four minutes from opening tip, Schreiner posted an 11-4 lead, before Tso dialed up her first trifecta of the day. UD would go on a 13-3 run over the next five and a half minutes to gain its first lead of the contest.
Trailing 21-18, the No.4-Seeded Mountaineers rattled off 11 unanswered points to build its largest advantage at the time, seven. The greatest deficit the Lady Crusaders faced was nine near the end of the opening half.
Still, a competitive back-and-forth second frame gave the hosting program life. A pair of free throws from senior Marleyna Bustamante (Donna, Texas) lifted her team ahead 50-49 with 3:24. It was the first time Dallas led since the 13:39 point of the half.
Another trey by Tso propelled the Lady Crusaders to their largest margin of leading in the game, 53-49 and capped an 8-0 run. It would be the last field goal for them though, as the final 3:24 minutes would result in Dallas being unable to collect a field goal.
Sophomore Seana Stoia (Tulsa, Okla.) was the other player for the Navy and White in double figures with 10 points and added six rebounds. Freshman Michelle DeCoud posted a team-high seven boards to match seven points.
It was a narrow differential on the rebounding department, with Schreiner holding 35-33 edge.
Kelsie Jackson posted a game-high 18 points, shooting 50-percent from the floor and four-of-five from the three-point arc. She pulled down eight rebounds.
Brooke Sanders helped form the double-digit scoring tandem for SU, contributing 16 in the victory.
Dallas has concluded the 2014-15 regular campaign.