>>02.11.06
Barnett's Record-Setting 38 Points Can't Dig Comets Out Of Hole
Ozarks 85, UTD 73

CLARKSVILLE, AR - Senior transfer Dani Barnett scored a school-record 38 points Saturday afternoon, including 21 during a second-half Comet rally, but it was not enough to save the UTD women's basketball team in an 85-73 loss to the University of the Ozarks.

The loss was particularly devastating because it put the Comets in a precarious position in their battle to win an ASC East Division playoff spot. With just two games left on the regular season schedule, UTD (11-12, 10-10 in ASC) trails Ozarks (12-11, 11-9) by a full game for the East Division's No. 3 seed in the ASC Championship Tournament; and it leaves them tied with Austin College (also 10-10).

UTD hosts both first-place Mississippi College and 8th-place Louisiana College this weekend, but may need wins in both games to qualify. UTD, which split its season series with both Ozarks and Austin College, would have to win one of the second- or third-tier tiebreakers to advance, and would probably need a sweep of their final two games to earn either of the final two playoff spots since both Ozarks and Austin College own an advantage by having wins over first-place Mississippi College this season.

The Comets have never advanced to the post-season in their eight-year program history.

In addition to Barnett's record-setting performance, the Saturday loss wasted a furious comeback that saw the Comets rally from 21 points down (50-29 with 16:29 to go) to get within four (77-73) in the final minute of the game. During the stretch, Barnett scored 21 as UTD went on a 44-27 run to trim the lead. UTD was unable, however, to convert on any of its three-point attempts in the final :49 as Ozarks was a perfect 8-of-8 at the free-throw line to salt the game away.

UTD was again victimized by its free throw shooting in a game that included 56 personal fouls. The Comets left 14 points at the foul stripe, hitting just 22-of-36 for the game, while Ozarks benefitted by converting 29-of-35.

The Comets actually had an early lead in this game (13-11 with 12:27), but Ozarks opened up the advantage with a 17-1 run over the next four minutes to make it a 28-14 ballgame. The Lady Eagles led at halftime, 41-25.

In addition to Barnett, who also had 10 rebounds, only Jennifer Longoria finished in double figures with 11 points.

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