ABILENE, Texas - The UT Dallas women's basketball team earned the program's fifth American Southwest Conference title, defeating East Texas Baptist 63-57 in the league championship finals at the Mabee Complex Saturday night.

The Comets (19-9) also won the title in 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019. They also earn the automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship Tournament, which will be the seventh appearance for UTD. The selection show will be Monday at 1:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.

The second-seeded Tigers (20-7) led most of the first quarter and had a 13-11 lead at the end of the period. The Comets, the fourth seed under first-year head coach Joe Shotland, shot 50 percent (7-for-14) in the second quarter and outscored ETBU 19-10 to lead by seven at the break.

UTD pushed its lead to 17 with 2:46 left in the third. The Tigers chipped away at the lead and trailed 55-52 with 1:49 remaining in the game. The Comets held off the team from Marshall by outscoring them 8-3 over the final minutes.

UTD shot 41.7 percent (20-for-48) from the field, 7-for-16 from three-point range and 16-for-21 at the free throw line. They also had 36 rebounds, 10 assists, three blocks, nine steals and 23 turnovers.

ETBU shot 33.3 percent (18-of-54) overall, 3-for-11 from outside and 18-for-25 at the line with 33 boards, 10 assists, one block, 10 steals and 17 turnovers.

UT Dallas Notes
- Senior guard Jordan Maxwell was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, after scoring 17 points in the finals.
- Sophomore guard Cierra Trigg was also named to the All-Tournament Team with 16 points and five rebounds.
- Sophomore Trystan Clark added 12 points, six rebounds and a career-high six steals, earning All-Tournament Team honors.
- Freshman guard Amanda Crowninshield scored eight points off the bench.
- Junior Blythe Williams scored four points and had five rebounds and tied her career-best of five assists.

East Texas Baptist Notes
- Mollie Dittmar led the Tigers with 14 points and nine rebounds.
- Bridget Upton scored 11 points to go with five boards and to steals.
- Kenidi White added nine points as did Jayla Hall.

Up Next
The Comets will await to see their national tournament destination with the selection show on NCAA.com on Monday at 1:30 p.m.
 

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