Women's Basketball Overpowers Schreiner at Home
January 26, 2024
IRVING, Texas. - The University of Dallas women's basketball team won their conference matchup against Schreiner University 82-62 on Friday, improving to 12-8 overall on the year and 6-5 in conference play.
Both teams stumbled out of the gate, with Dallas trailing by two after going 1-of-5 from the field to start the game. But a three-pointer by Tessa Hastings put the Crusaders up 5-4 with seven minutes left in the first quarter for what would ultimately be the last lead change of the game.
The Crusaders shot 38% the rest of the period and took an 18-10 lead into the second quarter.
Dallas dominated much of the second quarter, thanks in no small part to their +8 rebounding ratio as they took firm control of the boards. Kat Santos and Alyssa Sullivan were the driving force for Dallas in the period; Santos went 4-of-6 from the field with 10 points, two rebounds, and two blocks, and Sullivan scored six points with three rebounds and three assists.
Two of her assists were to Santos, as the pair helped Dallas take a 40-26 lead into halftime.
The Crusaders let their grip on the game slip a bit in the third quarter, shooting 33% from the field and missing their only two free throws. They felt the absence of Santos, who was an uncharacteristic 0-of-5 from the field in the third quarter, with no one stepping up to fill that void.
Hastings and Sullivan combined to go 5-of-7 with 11 points in the period, but they were two of just three players to score for Dallas in that span.
It didn't take long for Dallas to find their rhythm once again and begin building on their lead. The Crusaders produced from top to bottom in the lineup, with seven different players scoring in the fourth quarter. They shot 40.9% from the field and 62.5% from three. Maria Dicenta and Sullivan combined for 17 points while going 5-of-7 from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter to help seal the win.
With this victory, the women's program now has five wins by at least 20 points this season, the most in a single season for the program since the 2015-16 season.
Sullivan led all players with 21 points, setting a new single-game best with five three-pointers as she went 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. Santos wasn't far behind with 19 points. She also tied her single-game best with eight rebounds and set a new personal best with four blocks, matching the most by any Crusader this season.
Caroline Croft also set a new personal best with 11 assists, the most by any Crusader this season and one shy of tying the program record.
Up Next
The Crusaders will host Trinity University tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 27 at 6:00 pm.