>>01.12.06
Comets' Rally Comes Too Late
To Make Up For Poor Shooting Night
Austin College 69, UTD 61

RICHARDSON, TX - The University of Texas at Dallas women's basketball team entered its Thursday night showdown with traditional ASC East power Austin College with a chance to put more distance between the Lady 'Roos and themselves in the conference standings.

Instead, it was AC that came up with the big defensive night, holding the Comets to a miserable 24.5% shooting night and escaping the UTD Activity Center with a 69-61 win.

The Comets (6-6, 5-4) did rally late after falling into an early hole. Led by leading scorer Dani Barnett (right), the Comets still could not get any closer than seven points (58-51 with 4:17 remaining).

The Lady 'Roos (8-5, 5-5) jumped out to an early lead as UTD could manage just one shot from the floor in the game's first 8:30. AC had a 15-5 lead with 12:27 remaining and held its 10-point margin most of the first three-quarters of the game. The Lady Roos led 35-22 at the half as UTD hit just 5-of-30 shots in the first half.

Barnett paced the Comets with 20 points, most coming late, and Cassi Little added 12. But UTD was dominated on the boards as AC continuously got second-chance baskets. AC out-rebounded the Comets, 55-41.

The game also featured a total of 29 fouls for each team with four players fouling out. Combined, the two teams shot 77 free throws, with UTD hitting 33-of-43. The game might have been even more one-sided had AC improved on its 18-of-34 showing at the line.

The Comets dropped to fourth place in the ASC East with the loss, but lead AC by just a half game as the divisional race heats up. Ozarks, which comes to town Saturday, is currently in second place at 7-6, 6-4 after falling to third-place UT-Tyler, 90-81, Thursday.

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