Big Performance from DeCoud not Enough in Season Opener at Hendrix

(Photo Courtesy of Hendrix College)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Dallas jumped out of the gate with a 10-4 advantage. Down the first two points from the jump ball, Seana Stoia (Tulsa, Okla.) scored a jumper for the first pair of points for UD this campaign. DeCoud tallied the next two field goals on just as many possessions to extend the lead to 6-2. After Hendrix cut the gap in half on a layup by Madison Martin, DeCoud and Sammi Tso (Las Vegas, Nev.) each etched two free throws in a row, respectively to complete the early scoring.

The Warriors engineered a 15-2 run to close out the first quarter. Martin poured nine of her 11 points during that stanza and closed it out with a layup in the final two seconds.  She also scored the go-ahead layup to break a 12-12 tie and Hendrix never relinquished the lead. That was part of a 15-0 run that concluded the last 4:43 minutes of the first.

UD finally ended the scoring drought with Stoia connecting on a pair of free throws a little over a minute into the second quarter. She made the first three in the frame to nip the deficit to six points (21-15). Hendrix did not score until 7:47 left when Leigh James made both of her pair of shots at the charity stripe. Jordan Tibbits would notch the first field goal from either side with 5:40 left and opened the lead back to double-digits (25-15) for the home team. The Crusaders trailed 34-21 at intermission. Despite a 1-15 field goal percent shooting in the second quarter, UD was outscored by four (13-9).

In the second half, Dallas battled to remain within striking distance and were outdone on the scoreboard 30-27 over the last 20 minutes. The early quarter run was too much to overcome.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

 - DeCoud led all Crusaders with 16 points. Her personal-high 19 boards surpasses her previous best to end the 2015-16 season at Austin College by three. Her six blocks is two better than her old career-high last year at Southwestern Adventist University on January 25. It was also two shy from the single-game record (8) by Jean Davin vs. Texas College in 1989.

- Celsi Caraway (Arlington, Texas) made her first collegiate appearance with 15 points. That is the most points for a freshman debut since DeCoud on November 21, 2014, at home versus Elmira College.

- Stoia added nine points as the top three scorers combined for all but eight Dallas points.

- Overall the Crusaders shot 24.2 percent (15-62) from the floor and 13.6 percent (3-22) from behind the three-point arc. They did shoot 78.9 percent (15-19) from the free throw line.

- UD won the rebounding battle 47-41. DeCoud had eight of the 15 offensive boards. Stoia and Caraway grabbed five total rebounds apiece.

- Hendrix was led by James with 18 points, and included a 5-for-9 result on field goals. This accounted 4-for-5 in shooting from downtown. Hailey Bode and Martin contributed double-digit points with 12 and 11, respectively.

- James grabbed a team-high nine rebounds while Heather Prowse and Martin each amassed eight.

- The Warriors shot 37.1 percent (23-62) in field goals and 29.0 percent (9-31) in three-pointers. They out assisted the opposition 17-8, with Amber Turner dishing eight dimes.

UP NEXT

Dallas begins a two-game home stand with the first contest at the Maher Center this year on Friday at 6 p.m. against Fontbonne University.