Crusaders Unable to Hang with No. 25 Austin College
IRVING, Texas - The University of Dallas women's basketball team dropped its second conference game on the season 78-56 to No. 25 Austin College. The Crusaders (0-9, 0-2 SCAC) were led by Tiffani Lowe (San Francisco, Calif.) who had a career-best 18 points. A rough second quarter for Dallas, who only found eight points in that frame, led to a hard test to keep up with the nationally ranked team.
Austin College (9-1, 2-0 SCAC) started the first period with a 6-2 advantage. Lowe and Breeona Cannon (Fort Worth, Texas) hit back-to-back three-pointers to grab the 8-6 lead for Dallas. UD saw an 18-16 advantage with two and half minute remaining, but Regan Chiaverini hit two treys to take the 22-18 lead after one. Ann Savage and Bryce Frank both hit key shots to keep Austin ahead on the scoreboard. Frank finished with eight points in the quarter.
AC went 7-16 (43.8 percent) and 3-5 from behind the arc in the second period, including an 8-0 run at one point to take a convincing lead into halftime. Dallas was held to just eight points in that frame. A 5-0 Dallas run to start the 2nd half helped the Crusaders inch closer. Cannon hit a big three out of the gate. Unfortunately a 7-0 'Roos run erased that comeback attempt. Dallas got within six points at the midway point of the quarter with key three-pointers by Lowe and Faith Starnes (Bryan, Texas). Cold shooting then hit UD, as they were held to just one bucket in the final five minutes. AC took a 58-42 lead into the final quarter.
Austin College took the first 12 points to open the final period for a 70-42 advantage. The 'Roos pushed their lead to 73-46, but Dallas did not let up. The Crusaders scored seven-straight points including another three-pointer by Lowe. AC closed it out putting up five more points to stay atop the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference standings.
Kacie West led all scorers with 20 points. Frank followed that performance up with 14 points, while Savage added 11. Austin College won the rebound battle 41-32, led by Ally Longaker who came down with 10. The 'Roos shot 49.2 (31-63) percent from the field including a 12-22 (54.5 percent) mark from behind the arc. Natalie McCoy and Savage each had four assists, as AC racked up 22 on the afternoon. AC scored 32 points in the paint and converted 28 points off of turnovers, including 20 on the fastbreak.
Along with a career-high 18 points, Lowe also added a personal-best four steals and five assists. Vanessa Diaz (San Antonio, Texas) grabbed her fourth double-double on the season with 13 points and 10 boards. Starnes notched 10 points along with seven rebounds, while Cannon added nine points. Dallas made a season-best 10 three-pointers on the night as Lowe drilled four of them.
UP NEXT
Dallas will be off for ten days before traveling to Colorado for two more conference games. The Crusaders will be at Colorado College on Saturday (12/29) at 1:00 p.m. (MST). UD will then face off with Johnson & Wales University (CO) on Sunday (12/30). Tip-off will begin at 12:00 p.m. (MST).