BROWNWOOD, TX (01.29.31) - The UT Dallas women's basketball team improved to 8-1 on the road this season as the Comets held on for a 55-45 victory over Howard Payne Thursday night in American Southwest Conference play.

Just over a month ago, the Comets (now 15-3, 11-2 ASC) held a 17-point lead over HPU at home only to need double overtime to finish off the Lady Jackets, 81-79, on Dec. 22. Tonight, however, UTD would grab a lead in the opening half and never let go over the final 20 minutes as the Comets used a 30-18 advantage in the paint.

Nicolette Erkman led three Comets in double figures with 14 points as she was 6-for-16 from the field. Madi Hess recorded her fourth "double-double" of the season with 12 points and a career-high 14 boards while Amber Brown finished with 10 points and six rebounds.

After a very sluggish start by both teams, scoring a combined eight points through the first 6:58 of the contest, the host Lady Jackets grabbed a pair of three-point leads, 7-4 and 9-6, before UTD would find its rhythm. With 8:37 left in the first half, Christina Brosnahan would give the Comets the lead for good, 12-11, as UTD would extend its first-half lead to as many as 13 points twice before setting for a 27-18 halftime advantage.

The Comets would lead by no fewer than six points in the second half, the last time coming with 11:07 as HPU's Jessica Galaviz hit the second of two free throws to cut the UTD lead to 36-30. With just over two minutes left, Erkman lifted the Comets back to a 12-point lead, 53-41, on her only three-point of the night.

UTD ended the night shooting 38.9 percent (21-of-54), hitting just 5-of-15 three-pointers (33.3%), while shooting 66.7 percent (8-of-12) from the foul line. The Comets dominated the boards, out-rebounding HPU, 44-35.

The Comets return to action Saturday afternoon as they host Sul Ross State. Game time is 1 p.m. at the UTD Activity Center.