RICHARDSON, TX (12.20.17) – The UT Dallas women's basketball team used a 12-0 run to close the opening quarter, propelling the Comets to a 73-58 win over McMurry Wednesday night in American Southwest Conference crossover play.
 
The Comets improved to 4-1 in ASC play with Monday's win and have now won six of their last seven games after a 1-1 start to the season. The loss was the War Hawks first ASC defeat of the season, falling to 6-4 overall and 4-1 in league play.

UTD fell in an early 6-0 hole to the visiting War Hawks early in the first quarter before rallying back to a single point, 8-7. After a McM lay up that put the War Hawks back up three points, the Comets would roll off 12 straight points to grab a 19-10 lead after the opening period. UTD then used a 7-0 run early in the second quarter to eventually secure a 16-point lead, 38-22, at the half.

The War Hawks drew as close as 11 points in the third quarter, 39-28, after an Isabell Carrion three-point play, but UTD would take back control and use a 6-0 run late in the period to extend its lead to as many as 21 points, 52-31, on a McKenzie Petty lay up with 1:09 in the quarter.

Up 53-35 heading into the final period, the Comets watched McMurry slowly climb back into the contest thanks to 12-of-14 free throw shooting in the final 10 minutes. The War Hawks, however, would not get any closer than 12 points down the stretch.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Comets ended the night shooting 51.8 percent (29-of-56) from the field, hitting 3-of-9 three-pointers, and shot 60 percent (12-of-20) from the free-throw line.

UTD was able to grab the early lead thanks to 16 points off of nine first-half turnovers by the War Hawks. The Comets finished the game with 22 points off of 21 McM giveaways.

KEY PERFORMERS
Madison Steele finished with a team-high 18 points, one shy of her season best, hitting 8-of-17 shots from the field, while adding five rebounds and three assists.

Raenett Hughes came off the bench for 13 points while Victoria Pena and Alexa Boushey each had 12 points. Pena led the Comets with seven rebounds while Hughes had a team-best five assists.

NEXT GAME
After more than a week off for the holidays, the Comets (7-2, 4-1 ASC) will return to action Dec. 29-30 when they host the second annual UTD Classic, presented by Courtyard by Marriott, at the UTD Activity Center. During the event, UTD will face Kean (NJ) and Wisconson-Eau Claire.