RICHARDSON, TX (01.02.18) - The UT Dallas women's basketball team closed out the non-conference portion of its schedule Tuesday night with a 64-51 home win over Southwestern, extending the Comets' current winning streak to five games.

UTD took control of the contest in the opening quarter and survived a rally by the visiting Pirates in the third period to secure the 13-point victory and improve to 10-2 on the season. The Pirates fell to 4-7 after the loss.

The Comets were 9-for-18 from the floor as a team in the opening 10 minutes as UTD grabbed a 21-12 lead after the first quarter and would secure a 15-point cushion, 40-25, at the break after a buzzer-beating jumper by Kelley Skinner. SU clawed within single digits late in the third as the Comets led just 48-39 heading into the final frame, but outscored the Pirates, 16-12, in the final stanza. Southwestern went 0-5 from the field in the final 10 minutes, getting all 12 points from the free-throw line.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
UTD finished the night shooting 41 percent (25-of-61) from the floor, connecting on just 2-of-17 three-pointers (11.8%), and were 12-of-18 (66.7%) from the charity stripe. The Comets outscored SU in the paint, 38-20, and held a slim 38-34 rebounding advantage.

The Comets forced 21 turnovers, collecting 13 steals.

KEY PERFORMERS
Madison Steele and Raenett Hughes each finished with a team-high 12 points while Victoria Pena added 11 points to round out the Comets in double figures. Sinner finished with eight points and a game-high nine rebounds while Pena had a game-high four assists.

NEXT GAME
The Comets will take off nine days before return to action when they visit East Texas Baptist on Jan. 11 for the start of American Southwest Conference East Division play. Game time is 5:30 p.m. in Marshall.