WHEATON, IL (11.09.19) - The UT Dallas women's basketball team opened the 2019-20 season Saturday with a 66-62 road loss at Wheaton College.

Raenett Hughes led the Comets in scoring with 26 points while adding career highs in both rebounding (14) and steals (7). Katie Gunther added 11 points and nine rebounds while Victoria Pena pitched in 10 points.

Wheaton jumped out to an early lead as the Thunder scored the first 10 points of the game and held the Comets scoreless until the 5:51 mark of the first period.  The host Thunder stretched their lead to as many as 14 near the end of the half before Pena scored two back-to-back baskets to cut the deficit to 27-17 at the break.

The Comets trailed by double digits for the majority of the third quarter until Mia Spennato knocked down a wing three-pointer to pull UTD withing nine points, 40-31, with 3:20 left in the frame. However, Wheaton was able to extend its lead to 15 by the end of the quarter, holding the Comets scoreless in the final two minutes.

UT used full-court pressure and relied on outside shooting in the fourth to slowly crawl back into the contest. With 2:30 left to play, Hughes drew the Comets with six points, 59-53, with a layup with 2:45 left on the clock. Then a Spennato steal and Pena bucket drew UTD within four points with just over two minutes to play. The Comets would battle within two points after a Hughes layup with three seconds left before Wheaton closed the win with a pair of free throws.

After struggling from the field in the opening quarter, the Comets finished the night shooting 33.8 percent (25-of-74)  from the floor. UTD was just 3-of-15 (20%) from three-point range and was 9-for-15 from the foul line.

The Comets continue their road trip Sunday with a 4 p.m. game at No. 24-ranked University of Chicago.