Crusaders Drop Friday's Contest to Texas Lutheran

IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas women's basketball team fell 68-47 on Friday night at the Maher Center to Texas Lutheran University. A competitive first quarter saw the Crusaders (3-19, 1-14 SCAC) grab the early advantage. After the Bulldogs (9-13, 7-8 SCAC) took an 11-9 lead through the first break, they erupted to a big halftime lead thanks to a 19-6 scoring difference in the second quarter. TLU outshot Dallas 47.4 percent to 28.8 percent.

A layup by Gracie Williams (Midwest City, Okla.) and two free throws by Vanessa Diaz (San Antonio, Texas) lifted UD up 4-2 the first two minutes of the contest. After the Bulldogs answered to knot it, Diaz made an old fashioned three-point play to go up 9-4. With under five minutes, TLU's Dominique Campos made a triple to go up 9-7. A layup by Beyonce Perry (Lake Jackson, Texas) tied things with 3:19 to play, and Morgan Rodriguez shank the final jumper of the frame to put the guests up just over a minute to go.

The Bulldogs led 30-15 at intermission after going 50 percent (8-16) from the floor in the second quarter, while UD was limited to 2-of-13. Dallas was outscored 17-13 in the third frame. The Crusaders traded runs to shrink the gap to 21 for the final total. That included the final seven points of the game in the last 1:14.

Williams and Diaz reached double-digits to lead Dallas with 13 and 10 points, respectively. Williams made three of UD's four treys and Diaz was 6-for-7 at the free throw line. Diaz and Madi Horne (Paradise, Texas) tied a team-high six rebounds, which UD edged 36-35 on the Bulldogs. Dallas made seven steals and went to the line 23 times where it converted 13 shots.

Morgan Rodriguez led all players with 16 points. She added seven rebounds and four assists. Kasey Hairell tossed in 12 points off the bench and garnered a game-high eight boards. TLU managed a 28-18 edge on points in the paint and 19-7 advantage in points off turnovers. The bench contributed 33 points.

UP NEXT

Dallas hosts Southwestern University tomorrow with a tip-off around 6 p.m. after the men's game. Senior Day will be held prior to the opening jump ball.