Crusaders pull away in 4th to Capture Win on Friday in Home Opener

IRVING, Texas – Backed by timely scoring in the fourth quarter that included an 11-3 run in the last 3:40 to close the game, the University of Dallas women's basketball team (1-1) prevailed for the first time this season on Friday night versus Fontbonne University (1-1). The Crusaders have now won four of their past five home openers and the last three in a row. The victory snapped a nine-game slide dating back to last season.

Sammi Tso (Las Vegas, Nev.) notched a career-high 20 points, with half of them coming in the final stanza as the home team used a 22-13 scoring edge during that span.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Fontbonne got on the board first with a jump shot just over a minute into the contest. Michelle DeCoud (Monument, Colo.) countered on the next possession with a layup on a pass from the top of the arc by Seana Stoia (Tulsa, Okla.). After a few traded baskets, the Griffins gained early momentum on 9-2 run to open a 13-6 advantage. The Crusaders narrowed the gap and reclaimed a one-point lead (16-15) at the end of the first quarter.

The final visitor field goal that frame was a Paige Black trifecta with 4:48. Only a pair of free throws by Lauren Willis with 49 seconds were the points Fontbonne posted during that stretch. For UD, Tso nailed a trey with 2:40 to knot the scoreboard at 13. Helen Onyenso (Oak Park, Ill.) lifted Dallas in front for the first time that night, and Stoia capped the run by making the first-of-two free throws in the last 11 ticks on the clock.

The second half was poor shooting as the two sides combined for just 17 points. The Crusaders were ahead 25-23 at intermission.

It was another tight 10 minutes with the guests edging UD by one point (14-13) during the quarter. The lead was never relinquished by the Navy and White, as eight unanswered points started the quarter out of halftime. Kaitlynn Walker drained the final five points on consecutive possessions within the last 42 seconds to nip the gap to 38-37.

The Crusaders responded out of the break between quarters with five points of their own with a DeCoud jumper and Tso trifecta. Tso connected on her next three-pointer, and DeCoud converted an old-fashion three-point play to stretch the lead to 49-43 with six minutes remaining.

After Katie Sportsman brought the Griffins within a field goal (49-47) at 4:27, Caitlyn Worry (Lumberton, Texas) sank one-of-two triples to spark UD's huge run at the end. Stoia helped swing the momentum on the next play by blocking a shot and taking the loose ball. The senior scored on the next inside basket to increase the edge 54-47 with exactly 3 minutes to go.

Neither team scored from that juncture until Sportsman went one-of-two from the charity stripe with 1:05. Sportsman etched the lone field goal for Fontbonne in the game's last 5:34 minutes. Two free throws by Holly Tonry (Seattle, Wash.) extended the largest lead for either side on the night to 10.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

- Tso's previous personal scoring best was 19 points in 2014-15 at the Maher Center against Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College (January 1). She shot 6-for-9 from the field and 4-for-6 in three-pointers.

- Two other players helping solidify a trio of double figure scorers were DeCoud and Stoia with 11 and 10, respectively. DeCoud matched game-highs in rebounds (9) and assists (4), while Stoia grabbed six boards.  

- Tonry swiped five steals, the most since she snatched six last year at home versus Southwestern University (February 13). The guard added three assists and four rebounds.

- Dallas shot 48.8 percent (20-41) from the floor and 43.8 percent (7-16) from downtown.

- The team struggled at 68.4 percent (13-19) compared to Fontbonne's 93.8 percent (15-16) from the line.

- Turnovers were even at 24 apiece.

- The Griffins garnered a 37-26 edge in rebounds including 18 on the offensive glass. This helped a 14-3 difference in second chance points.

- Individually the guests were led by Walker with 15 points and nine rebounds. Sportsman was closely behind with 13 points and eight boards.

UP NEXT

Dallas is home on November 22 versus Randall University. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.