>>02.16.06
Comets' Playoff Hopes Fade After Rally
Falls Short Against Mississippi College
Mississippi College 77, UTD 71

RICHARDSON, TX - The University of Texas at Dallas women's basketball team saw its hopes for a comeback victory – and its dream of a first-ever playoff berth in program history – fade away in the final seconds Thursday night as first-place Mississippi College held off a late UTD rally for a 77-71 victory.

The loss – UTD's sixth in its last eight games – knocked the Comets down to 11-13 overall and 10-11 in ASC East Division play - a full game behind both Austin College and the University of the Ozarks with just one regular season game remaining. UTD could still theoretically tie one of those teams in record for fourth place in the playoff chase with a win over Louisiana College on Saturday, but both hold the tiebreaker advantage over the Comets.

The ASC's second level of tiebreaker - after head-to-head competition - is the team's records against the other divisional opponents in the order of their final finish. UTD is 0-2 against both MC and UT-Tyler, which will finish in the top two spots in the race. Because both Ozarks and AC are 1-1 in their games against MC this season, they would hold the advantage for the East Division's No. 4 seed at the ASC Championship Tournament.

Senior Dani Barnett (pictured) led the Comets Thursday with a 20-point night, surpassing the 1500-point plateau in career scoring. Seniors Jen Longoria (15 points) and Cassi Little (12 points) also finished in double figures.

The Thursday loss also wasted a dramatic comeback attempt from the Comets, who were seemingly out of it with 4:02 remaining and a 15-point deficit (down 67-52). UTD needed a miracle at that point – and almost got it. A Longoria three-pointer with 1:15 cut the lead down to a manageable 69-61. Barnett then nailed a rare three-pointer to knock it down to seven points (71-64) with :58 remaining. Longoria got the Comets to within five (73-68) with :16 left, then Leslie Leatherwood threw up a three with :09 left to cut it down to a two-point game at 73-71.

Unfortunately, MC secured the win by hitting four straight free throws in the final :09.

UTD still has a chance to finish out Coach Polly Thomason's inaugural season with a 12-13 record, which would still be one of the two best finishes in program history. UTD hosts Louisiana College in the season finale Saturday afternoon at 1 pm.

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