RICHARDSON, TX (11.16.19) - The No. 7-ranked UT Dallas women's basketball team shot nearly 50 percent from the field as the Comets picked up their first victory of the season, an 84-65 win over in-region foe Southwestern in the squad's 2019-20 home opener Saturday afternoon.

The Comets (now 1-2) celebrated Homecoming with a 30-for-62 performance from the field (48.4%), hitting nine three-pointers. Junior Raenett Hughes led the team with 24 points while Katie Gunther added 16 points and Kelley Skinner had 13 points and a game-high eight rebounds.

Hughes scored 17 of her 24 game-best points in the opening half as UTD snagged a 44-36 lead at intermission. She was 5-for-9 from the floor through the first two quarters, hitting 6-of-7 free throws. The Comets shot 53.3 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes while forcing eight Southwestern turnovers.

With 9:08 left in the third period, Nkechinyerem Okehi gave the Comets a double-digit lead and UTD never looked back, opening the lead to as many as 18 points, 66-48, at the end of the quarter. The Comets' lead hit 20 points with 6:08 left to play when Gunther drained a three-pointer to lift UTD to a 74-53 cushion. UTD widened its cushion to as many as 22 points late in the contest before settling for a 19-point victory.

The Comets out-scored Southwestern (0-3), 22-12, in the third quarter and 18-17 in the fourth.

UTD returns to action Tuesday, Nov. 26, when the Comets host Austin College in non-conference play. The contest is set for 2 p.m. at the UTD Activity Center.