RICHARDSON, TX (11.22.21) - In its first of two straight games against top five programs, the No. 15-ranked UT Dallas women's basketball team suffered a 71-60 home loss to No. 4 Whitman Monday night in non-conference play.

After back-to-back double-digit wins to open the new season, the Comets (now 2-1) were handed its first loss of the year Monday, but not after a late surge to force the Blues (5-0) to fight for the road victory.

The undersized Comets hit a season-high eight three-pointers, but connected on just 10-of-39 shots inside the arc as they closed the loss shooting just 30 percent from the field. Jordan Maxwell came of the bench for 12 points and three assists, both team highs, while starter Paris Kiser added 11 points, hitting 3-of-6 treys. Jordan Rudd had nine points and collected a team-best seven rebounds.

UTD kept close with the Blues in the opening period and found itself tied with its guest, 9-9, after Diane Hurst jumper with 2:50 left in the first. However, Whitman rolled off a 14-5 stretch over the next six minutes to pull ahead by nine points, 23-14, with 6:09 remaining in the half. The Blues would hold that nine-point cushion at the break, 36-27.

The Blues took command of the contest in the third, outscoring UTD by 10 points, 18-8, and secured a 19-point advantage heading into the final quarter. Trailing 54-35, the Comets stepped up defensively early in the fourth, holding Whitman without a field goal for almost eight minutes in the period as the Blues opened the stanza 0-for7. Whitman connected on 4-of-6 free throws during that stretch, but the Comets would claw within 10 points, 64-54, on a Rudd free throw with 1:19 remaining. Unfortunately, UTD hit just 2-of-6 shots in the final 60 seconds as the Blues held on for the win with 7-of-9 free throws during that same span.

The Comets will face another top-five opponent next Monday, Nov. 29, when they return to ASC play and host No. 2-ranked East Texas Baptist. Tip-off is 5:30 p.m. at the UTD Activity Center.