RICHARDSON, TX (11.26.19) - The UT Dallas women's basketball team dropped a close 58-57 home decision to in-region foe Austin College Tuesday afternoon in a clash of two teams that have their sights set on NCAA postseason play this spring.

The Comets dropped to 1-3 overall with Tuesday's loss and will look to bounce back next Wednesday when the open American Southwest Conference play with a 5:30 p.m. home game against Ozarks.

Senior Victoria Pena scored a game-high 19 points while adding 13 rebounds for the eighth 'double-double' of her career. Fellow senior Katie Gunther added 11 points and snagged a career-high 18 boards in the loss.

Down 48-42  heading into the final period, Pena drained a jumper on the Comets' first possession of the fourth to claw the home team within three, but Austin College (3-0) would not give up the lead until the final minute of the contest. With 53 ticks on the clock, Comet junior Raenett Hughes knotted the game, 55-55, with the second of two free throws, but the 'Roos answered with a three-point play by Natalie McCoy on their ensuing possession.

Hughes would draw the Comets back within a single point with 35 seconds left and UTD then forced a shot-clock violation by the 'Roos with 3.7 seconds remaining. After advancing the ball to the front court with a timeout, UTD had one final chance for the win, but Hughes' jumper fell off target at the buzzer.

The Comets finished the game shooting just 29.7 percent (22-of-74) from the field, making 5-of-26 three-pointers (19.2%), but struggles from the free-throw line forced them to play from behind for most of the afternoon. UTD hit just 8-of-17 free shots (47.1%).

Pena was 8-for-22 from the floor, hitting three treys, and added four assists. Gunther was 4-for-12 and collected a pair of blocked shots. Hughes, the Comets' leading scorer early in the season, finished with eight points.