Women's Hoops Cruises Past Dallas

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College women's basketball team opened up Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play in emphatic fashion on Wednesday, building a big early lead and never looking back in a 64-44 victory over the University of Dallas in Hughey Gym. The 'Roos are now 4-2 overall on the year.

Three players finished in double figures in a balanced scoring attack for Austin College, with Lexi Martin drilling 4-of-10 threes to record a team-best 12 points while Saleigh Berry and Trinity Williams each had 11. Avory Miller continued to stuff the stat sheet, scoring eight points, grabbing nine rebounds, dishing out six assists, and coming away with six steals in the win. Miller currently ranks in the top five in the conference in rebounds, assists, and steals.

The 'Roos hounded Dallas into 25 turnovers, including 15 in the first half as they built a 36-14 lead after two quarters of action. Dallas took an early lead at 7-4 but it was all Austin College after that, with the 'Roos closing the frame on a 14-2 run capped by a last-second 35 footer by Maya Dodson to swing the momentum firmly into the home team's favor. Dallas scored just five points in the second frame, making 2-of-8 shot attempts while turning it over 11 times in the quarter, and Christen Campbell came off the bench to score six points to help the 'Roos into halftime with a 22 point lead.

After halftime, the game became more competitive with Dallas matching the 'Roos with 14 points in the third quarter but Austin College wouldn't allow the Crusaders to chip away at the margin, with Berry scoring six of her 11 points in the frame. Six different players scored once each for Austin College in the fourth to close things out for the 64-44 victory. Austin College shot 38.7% from the field collectively and made 7-of-23 three pointers, while Dallas hit 37.8% of its shots but just 2-of-11 from long range. Austin College scored 19 points off of turnovers, while the Crusaders only had three, and the 'Roos also won the second chance points battle at 14-4.

Williams made 5-of-9 shots and grabbed five rebounds and Berry hit 5-of-10 in the win, while Dodson scored seven points and grabbed four boards off the bench, adding a pair of steals, and Emma Potts pulled down seven rebounds, including four on the offensive glass, and chipped in five points. La'Aria Miller led all scorers with 18 points for Dallas, hitting 6-of-8 from the field and making both of the three pointers for the Crusaders, and Hailey Hawthorne scored eight points off the bench for UD.

Austin College is back in action on Saturday when they host Southwestern University in a non-conference game at 2:00 p.m.