RICHARDSON, TX (02.20.20) - Junior guard Raenett Hughes has become the first female Comet to record a 500-point season as she scored a game-high 25 points Thursday night in UT Dallas' 74-56 home win over Hardin-Simmons in American Southwest Conference crossover play.

A native of College Station, Hughes came into Thursday's contest just two points shy of the previous single-season record of 480 points, held by former Comet Morgan Kilgore (2013-14). After Hughes' 25 points against the visiting Cowgirls, Hughes now boasts 503 points through 24 games this season, leading the ASC with 21.0 points per contest.

Thursday's victory also clinched the Comets the ASC East title outright and UTD will now host the league's postseason tournament, Feb. 27-29, marking just the second time the Comets have hosted the event. UTD also hosted the ASC Tournament in 2018.

The Comets will close out the regular season Saturday afternoon as the celebrate Senior Day against McMurry. Tip-off is 1 p.m. at the UTD Activity Center.

UTD took control of the contest early, taking a 9-3 lead by the first media timeout of the night. The Comets continued to find success throughout the quarter, leading by as many as 12 points after Hughes fast break layup with 23 seconds remaining in the period as UTD held a 24-14 advantage after the opening 10 minutes of play. The Comets then  used a 12-4 run early in the second period to pull away, extending their lead to 15 points, 36-21, after another Hughes breakaway bucket with 2:26 left before the break. UTD led the Cowgirls, 38-25, at the intermission thanks to forcing nine first-half turnovers.

After making some halftime adjustments, HSU would claw back into the contest in the third frame, drawing within a single possession, 43-40, with 2:40 left in the period after a Parris Parmer jumper. However, the Comets settled down late in the quarter and regained a nine-point cushion, 51-42, heading into the final stanza. 

The final quarter was all UTD as the Comets held a double digit lead for the final 9:34 of the contest while scoring 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting (56.2%) in the quarter alone. This late game momentum carried UTD to its fourth straight and 10th overall 20-win campaign.

Hughes was 8-of-17 from the floor, hitting 9-of-13 free throws, while adding five rebounds, four assists and four steals without a turnover. Victoria Pena finished with 19 points and a team-best eight rebounds while Kelley Skinner rounded out the Comets in double figures with 10 points. Nkechinyerem matched Pena for the team lead with eight boards of her own.

The Comets closed the night shooting 39.1 percent (27-of-69) as a team, making just 6-of-25 three-pointers (24%), while connecting on 14-of-24 free throws (58.3%).