BROWNWOOD, TX (12.17.16) - The UT Dallas women's basketball team hit four free throws in the final minute to earn a 61-57 road win over American Southwest Conference West Division leader Howard Payne Saturday afternoon, remaining perfect in conference play.

It was the first conference loss for the Yellow Jackets.

The Comets (5-2, 3-0 ASC) will put their three-game winning streak on the line Monday afternoon with a road game at Sul Ross State. Game time is 12 p.m. in Alpine.

With the game tied, 57-57, with just under a minute to play, Kendall Festervand was fouled under the basket by HPU's Megan Cisneroz and the ensuing free shots lifted the Comets to a two-point advantage with 57 seconds on the clock. UTD held the host Yellow Jackets scoreless (0-for-3) in the final minute and added a free throw each from Alyssa Crockett and Festervand in the final 25 seconds to seal the victory.

Micaela Gonzalez led the Comets with 18 points along with a game-high eight rebounds as she was 6-for-12 from the field and 6-for-7 from the free-throw line. Zavier Landry added 15 points and a team-high three assists as the only other UTD player in double digits. Victoria Pena came off the bench to match Gonzalez' game-high eight rebounds.

The Comets grabbed a slim 14-12 lead after the opening quarter, but trailed HPU, 29-23, at the break. UTD would open the second half on a 7-0 run to secure a 30-29 advantage before trading the lead with the Yellow Jackets on multiple occasions in the third period.

UTD led the Yellow Jackets, 41-40, entering the fourth frame and used a three-pointer by Crockett and a free throw by Gonzalez go take a five-point lead, 45-40, with 8:58 left to play, the Comets' largest lead since opening the game, 7-0. The Comets later extended their lead to six points before HPU rolled off six straight points, capped by a pair of free throws by Dominique Featherstone, to tie the game, 48-48, with 6:16 remaining.

The Comets retook the lead, 53-52, on a Gonzalez lay up with 3:27 left, but HPU would regain a two-point advantage, 57-55, just over a minute later on a two Featherstone free throws. Landry would knot the game for the sixth time of the afternoon at 57-57 with 2:04 left to play.

After a slow first half, the Comets finished the game shooting 41.2 percent (21-of-51) form the field. UTD was 5-for-5 from the field in the fourth quarter. The Comets were just 2-of-12 (16.7%) from three-point range and hit 17-of-25 (68%) free throws.