Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 EAGLE LAKE/ORANGE, CA (12.31.09) – The UT Dallas women's basketball team came up with some well-timed offensive spark one night, but couldn't seem to keep the momentum going the next as the Comets split a pair of non-conference road games in the Tiger/Panther Classic.

UTD (7-3) went on a 12-1 run during the game's final minutes Wednesday to top Occidental College, 71-63, in the opener. But on New Year's Eve, the fireworks were nowhere to be found as the Comets sputtered offensively in the second half of a 69-52 loss to Chapman University.

UTD 71, OCCIDENTAL 63 (Boxscore)

UTD broke the Wednesday night game open from a 57-57 tie with 3:59 remaining by holding the Occidental Tigers to just one free throw during a three-minute stretch and stretched out their sixth lead in a back-and-forth game to 67-58 with just under a minute remaining. The game had featured 10 ties and 12 lead changes during the first 39 minutes.

The Comets had four players reach double figures, paced by Chelsea Edwards and Rachel Addison's 14-point nights. Lauren Hale pitched in 12 points – including six in the final 1:24 – as did reserve Tarneisha Scott, who posted a double-double by adding a team-best 13 rebounds.

UTD started slowly, giving up an 8-2 deficit in the game's first five minutes; but fought its way back to go up 28-26 at halftime. The Comets dominated inside early, scoring 26 of those points in the paint, and getting 10 off OC turnovers. UTD remarkably commited a season-low seven turnovers in the game while forcing 17 and coming up with 13 steals.

UTD continued to lead through the first nine minutes of the second period, but could not get more than five points ahead and the Tigers were able to tie the game up again at 41-41 at 11:51. Occidental moved in front briefly, but could never build more than a two-point advantage and the two teams continued to trade ties and leads until the final four minutes when UTD broke open the 57-57 tie.

Occidental was able to stay in the game by shooting 43.5 percent from the field, hitting five three-point shots and converting on 18 of 20 opportunities at the free-throw line.

CHAPMAN 69, UTD 52 (Boxscore)

The Comets lost whatever offensive momentum they gained in their opener, scoring just seven times from the field after halftime in a 69-52 loss to Chapman Thursday night.

UTD's troubles started with 5:47 to go in the first half when a Rachel Addison basket stretech an early UTD lead out to 31-25. From that point on, however, the Comets managed just one free throw the rest of the half and then gave up a 32-12 run to Chapman (5-7) to open the second half.

UTD trailed by as much as 22 points after halftime (66-44 with 5:06 remaining) before chipping away in the game's final minutes. After shooting 50 percent from the field in the first half, the Comets were a paltry 7-of-25 (28.0%) in the second period.

The Comets' turnover troubles returned, as UTD coughed up the ball 29 times. UTD was also a victim of the officials' whistle, committing 25 fouls that gave the Panthers the chance to hit 22-of-30 free throws.

Only Edwards ended in double figures, scoring 13 points. Tawni Ichiumura and Scott each had 8.