Box Score RICHARDSON, TX - The 2008-09 version of the UT Dallas women's basketball team took a little while to get warmed up, but once they did, the Comets stormed back from an early deficit to take a 65-53 win from Austin College in their home opener.
.JPG" alt="" />UTD was down 30-24 at halftime and by as much as 12 points in the first half, but outscored the Kangaroos, 41-23 in the second half, shooting 53.3 percent from the field and hitting five three-pointers. Austin College, conversely, shot just 28.6 percent in the second period after dominating much of the opening half.
Junior point guard
Chelsea Edwards led UTD with 21 points in a volume-shooting performance, connecting on 9 of 22 from the field. Junior forward
Lauren Hale added 15 by connecting on three 3-pointers and started off the season with a four-block performance. Sophomore
Kori Joyce, who averaged just over 3 points per game as a freshman, erupted for 14 points. Freshman
Lauren Jiles topped the team with 7 rebounds, though AC out-rebounded the Comets, 41-39.
The biggest difference in the game were the 32 AC turnovers forced by the Comet defense. UTD also was credited with 19 steals, including 8 from Edwards. The Comets got 23 points following turnovers.
UTD fell behind early and was down 14-2 five minutes into the game. The Comets rallied and cut the lead to 14-13 on an Edwards' layup four minutes later, but the 'Roos stretched the lead out to six points at the half. UTD battled to open the second half, and finally tied the score at 44-44 with 11 minutes left on a Hale 3-pointer. UTD then took the lead for the first time on a pair of
Rachel Addison free throws and then was off to the races.
Over the next five minutes UTD outscored the Kangaroos 16-6 and had a 60-50 lead with 4:04 remaining. The Comets finished scoring 21 of the last 30 points scored in the game.
BOXSCORE
