RICHARDSON, TX (01.25.18) - The UT Dallas women's basketball team earned a 75-57 home win over Belhaven Thursday as the Comets returned to American Southwest Conference East Division play.

Rebounding from just their second ASC loss earlier in the week, the Comets not only got back in the win column but moved back into a tie for first place in the ASC's East Division, thanks from help from around the league. UTD is now 15-3 overall and 9-2 in ASC play, tied with East Texas Baptist for the top spot in the division after the Tigers dropped a home game to Texas-Tyler Thursday. The Comets now need just one more victory to secure a berth into their 12th consecutive ASC Tournament.

UTD got off to a hot start, outscoring the Blazers, 23-9, in the opening quarter and never looked back. After a slow second quarter, UTD led the Blazers, 38-22, cooled off the second half to settle for the 18-point win. The Comets never led by fewer than 12 points in either the third or fourth quarter.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Comets forced 25 BU turnovers, scoring 29 points off those takeaways, and finished the night shooting 44.4 percent (28-of-63) from the field. UTD was out-rebounded by the Blazers, 36-30, but dominated BU in second-chance points, 20-9.

UTD was 8-of-22 (36.4%) from three-point range and hit just 11-of-17 (64.7%) free throws.

KEY PERFORMERS
Victoria Pena finished the night with 18 points to lead three Comets in double figures. Pena was 7-for-15 from the field, hitting two three-pointers, and added four assists, three steals, three rebounds and two blocked shots.

Shannon Mathis came off the bench for a career-best 14 points while Raenett Hughes added 13 points. Hughes and Kelley Skinner led the Comets with five rebounds while Skinner had a team-high five assists.

NEXT GAME
The Comets return to action Saturday afternoon as they host Louisiana College in another ASC East game. Tip-off is 2 p.m. at the UTD Activity Center.