RICHARDSON, TX (02.13.16) - Despite falling late to East Texas Baptist, 61-56, Saturday afternoon, the UT Dallas women's basketball team got the help it needed around the league and will be heading to a 10th straight American Southwest Conference Tournament later this month.

The Comets (now 14-9, 6-7 ASC) wrapped up the home portion of their season Saturday and celebrated lone senior Jasmine Lopez at the conclusion of the game. UTD will wrap up the regular season next week with a pair of ASC East road games. The Comets return to action Thursday at LeTourneau. Game time is 5:30 p.m. in Longview.

UTD led the Tigers by nine points, 47-38, with just over five minutes to play before ETBU mounted a late rally to edge the Comets. The Tigers took the lead for just the second time all game, 50-49, with 1:36 remaining after a Lauren Lee lay up. The Comets answered ETBU shot-for-shot over the next minute, but could not regain the lead as the Tigers finished the game 9-for-10 from the free-throw line over the final 28 seconds.

The Comets jumped out to a strong start, leading ETBU, 12-7, after the first period, holding the Tigers to just three field goals in the opening 10 minutes. UTD took a double-digit lead early in the second period and led by as many as 13 points, 23-10, just past the midway point of the quarter. However, after a 9-0 run to end the half by ETBU, the Comets held a slim four-point lead, 23-19, at the break.

ETBU (now 15-9, 8-7 ASC) grabbed its first lead of the afternoon with 7:02 left in the third period, 27-25, on a Taylee Alexander, but the Comets responded. UTD scored six straight points, en route to a 15-5 run, to end the period and grab a 40-32 advantage.

Micaela Gonzalez led all scorers in the contest with 14 points, while adding five rebounds and a pair of assists. Kendall Festervand finished with 11 points as the only other UTD player in double figures. Madison Stelle grabbed a game-high nine rebounds while Shannon Mathis dished out six assists.

In other ASC East action Saturday afternoon, Ozarks upset Louisiana College, 83-82, in overtime. That LC loss guarantees the Comets will finish no worse than a tie for fourth place with the Lady Wildcats in the division standings, with the tie-breaker after a season sweep by UTD.