RICHARDSON, TX (01.18.20) - UT Dallas senior guard Victoria Pena set the Comet career rebounding record Saturday afternoon as the Comet women's basketball team held off Belhaven, 67-60, in a key American Southwest Conference East Division contest.

Pena pulled down 11 boards in the Comet victory, giving her 534 rebounds over her four-year career with the program. Pena broke the old UTD career record of 531 rebounds, set by former Comet Micaela Gonzalez (2014-17).

More than one school record was set in the the Comets' third consecutive victory as junior guard Raenett Hughes broke the single-game mark for field goals made, going 15-for-18 from the floor for a game-high 34 points, her third 30-point performance of the season. Hughes had 14 field goals early in the season to match the previous single-game record set by Morgan Kilgore during the 2013-14 campaign.

The Comets (now 12-4, 6-1 ASC) opened the game with a quick 11-2 run which was quickly countered by an 8-0 run by Belhaven directly after by using a full court press in attempt to speed up the game and create turnovers. Despite trailing by as many as six points in the second quarter, the Comets fought back and, after several lead changes, gained a 31-28 lead headed into halftime.

UTD used strong rebounded to regain the lead before the break, out-rebounding the Blazers 28-15 over the first 20 minutes, to overcome 18 first-half turnovers. The Comets picked up 24 points in the paint in the half, compared to just 12 by BU.

In the third quarter, the Comets pulled away from a tie contest, 41-41, with a quick 7-1 run over a stretch of less than two minutes to secure a 48-42 advantage heading into the final period thanks to a breakaway lay up Hughes at the buzzer.  After holding off an early fourth quarter run by BU, the Comets would take back control and not relinquish the lead in the final frame.

Hughes was the only Comet to reach double figures in the contest, accounting for more than half of the squad's offensive output in the victory. Natalie Miller pulled down a career-best 13 boards to lead three Comets in double-digit rebounding, however. Pena finished with 11 rebounds and Kelley Skinner had 10 boards. The Comets would out-rebounded BU, 52-39, for the contest.

The Comets shot 43.3 percent (26-of-60) from the field as a team, hitting just two three-pointers, and were 13-of-23 (56.5%) from three free-throw line.

UTD returns to action Thursday night when the Comets visit Sul Ross State in ASC crossover play. Tip-off is 5:30 p.m. in Alpine.