RICHARDSON, TX (01.27.18) - The UT Dallas women's basketball team will be heading to a 12th straight American Southwest Conference Tournament next month, thanks to an 81-73 home win over Louisiana College in ASC East play Saturday afternoon..

The top scoring defense in the ASC, the Comets relied heavily on their offense against the Wildcats to remain in the top spot in the league's East Division. UTD shot better than 60 percent from the opening half, collecting 16 of their-season best 24 assists before the break. The Comets led LC by 10 points at the break, 45-35, but struggled from the field in the third quarter, letting the Wildcats claw back and even take a one-point lead late in the period.

Leading 56-55 heading to the final quarter, the Comets regained their rhythm in the final stanza to pull away for the victory. UTD shot 58.3 percent (7-of-12) as a team in the final 10 minutes. LC knotted the game once more at 60 after a three-pointer by Rachel Johnson, but the Comets answered with a 7-1 run, capped by a lay up by Raenett Hughes, to regain control.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Comets finished the game shooting 51.7 percent (30-of-58) as a team for a season-high 81 points in the victory. UTD was 7-for-18 (38.9%) from three-point range and hit 14-of-22 (63.6%) free throws. UTD's previous season high was 76 points, set twice, while the Comets' top previous assist total was 20, also accomplished twice.

UTD's starting five accounted for 76 of the squad's 81 points.

KEY PERFORMERS
Kelley Skinner led the Comets with 18 points, hitting 6-of-12 shots with four three-pointers. Victoria Pena added 17 points, a long with nine rebounds and seven assists. Alexa Boushey and Madison Steele each had 14 points while Hughes finished with 13 points.

NEXT GAME
The Comets (16-3, 10-2 ASC) will open the second half of ASC play Thursday when they face these same Wildcats in Pineville, La. Game time is 5:30 p.m.\