RICHARDSON, TX (12.30.21) - In its only game at the UTD Hoops Classic, the No. 18-ranked UT Dallas women's basketball team suffered a 57-51 home loss to  No.8 Wisconsin-Eau Claire Thursday afternoon to close out the 2021 calendar year.

The Comets (6-3) got off to a very rough start, trailing UWEC, 10-0, three minutes into the contest. However, UTD rallied later in the first and would even take a slim lead in the second period before the visiting Blugolds pulled away late in the contest.

UTD struggled from the field in the contest, shooting a season-low 26.2 percent from the field. The Comets hit 8-of-26 three-pointers in the loss, but hit just 9-of-39 shots from inside the arc. Paris Kiser led the Comets with 13 points, hitting 3-of-5 treys, while Anna Jefferson-Polk and Diane Hurst each finished with eight points. Hurst led UTD with eight boards and Jordan Rudd dished out a team-best five assists.

The Comets erased their early 10-point deficit by the 3:08 mark of the opening period after a pair of Kiser free throws made it 15-15. UTD would eventually snag a 20-19 advantage with just over seven minutes left before halftime on a Rudd jumper in the paint. After the two teams traded leads late in the second, the Blugolds would use a 7-0 run to close the half and grab a 31-25 cushion at the break.

UWEC extended its lead to as many as 12 points twice early in the third period, however the Comets made a late surge in the quarter to draw back within a single point, 43-42, after a Jefferson-Polk free throw capped a 17-6 run by the home team with 52 seconds left in the third. The Blugolds answered with a late three-pointer in the quarter and never led by less than three points over the final period.

The Comets return to action Monday when they host Austin College for a 6 p.m. non-conference game.