ABILENE, TX (03.06.21) - The No. 9-ranked UT Dallas women's basketball team picked up its fifth consecutive victory to close the regular season Saturday as the Comets downed Hardin-Simmons, 88-80, in American Southwest Conference play.

The Comets (now 13-3, 9-2 ASC) will now open up the ASC Championship Wednesday at home with an opening-round game against LeTourneau. Tip-off is 6 p.m. at the UTD Activity Center.

Senior Kelley Skinner nearly notched the first 'triple-double' in UTD women's hoops history as she closed out the win over HSU with 19 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, all team highs. Skinner was 7-for-18 from the field, hitting a pair of three-pointers, and was 3-for-5 from the foul line in her first 'double-double' since her freshman campaign.

Raenett Hughes added 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting while Anna Jefferson-Polk came off the bench for 10 points.

Trailing most of the opening quarter, the Comets took the lead for good at the 8:53 mark of the second period, 23-21, on a Skinner lay up. The Comets would out-scored HSU, 34-18, in the second quarter to secure a 53-39 lead at the break.

The host Cowgirls rebounded in the third period, out-gunning UTD, 24-13, to claw within three points (66-63), heading into the final 10 minutes. HSU opened the fourth with a jumper from Parris Parmer and eventually took a 68-67 lead on a free throw by Natasha Blizzard with 8:22 remaining in the contest.

The Comets answered with a bucket from Mia Rudin to spark a 9-0 run to eventually take a 76-68 lead with just under four minutes to play. A three-pointer by Maddie Eller with 3:00 on the clock put the Comets back up nine points, 79-70, and iced the victory.

The UTD women will be heading to the postseason for the 15th consecutive season and have advanced to at least the semifinals of the ASC Tournament each of the past four seasons.