MARSHALL, TX (02.14.15) - Trailing by two points at halftime, the UT Dallas women's basketball team shot nearly 57 percent from the field in the second half to rally for a 77-62 road win over East Texas Baptist in American Southwest Conference play Saturday afternoon.
The Comets (now 19-4, 15-3 ASC) currently sit in second place in the ASC with two games left and would lock up the ASC Tournament's #2 seed with a win in either of their final two home games. UTD hosts Mary Hardin-Baylor at 5:30 p.m. Thursday before celebrating Senior Day Saturday at 1 p.m. against Concordia Texas.
After shooting just 29 percent (9-for-31) over the opening 20 minutes, the Comets entered the locker room trailing ETBU, 25-23. With 19:02 left to play, the Comets still trailed by two points, 27-25, but would use a 7-0 run to kick start a 16-4 rally to grab a double-digit lead, 41-31, with 14:00 remaining.
Nicolette Erkman scored six of the Comets' first nine points during that stretch as UTD would not trail again for the rest of the game. The Comets widened their lead to as many as 14 points, 49-35, after a
Madi Hess lay up.
The host Tigers (now 9-14, 5-13 ASC) climbed back within four points, 52-48, with just under seven minutes to play after a 13-3 run before UTD would finish the game strong. The Comets went 14-for-16 from the free throw line over the final five minutes to pull away for the win.
Amber Brown led four Comets in double figures with 17 points while
Ashley Shaw had 14 points,
Micaela Gonzalez had 13 points and
Christina Brosnahan had 10 points. Senior point guard
Madi Hess ended the game with seven points along with nine rebounds and eight assists, both game highs. Hess now has 129 assists on the season, breaking the program's record of 125 assists, set by former Comet great Chelsea Edwards during the 2008-09 season.
For the game, the Comets shot 41.4 percent (24-of-58) from the field,hitting just 3-of-17 (17.6) three-pointers, and were 26-of-34 (76.5%) from the free-throw line. UTD set season highs for both free throws and attempted in the game.
For ETBU, Amanda Rucker had a game-high 25 points, leading three Tigers in double figures. Amber Carver and Cekret Davis each finished with 12 points. The Tigers out-rebounded UTD, 42-35.
