>>01.14.06
Comets Keep Pressure On; Move Past Ozarks In ASC East Standings With Win
UTD 73, Univ. of the Ozarks 59

RICHARDSON, TX - Ashley Soto (near right) had a double-double while Dani Barnettt (far right) had her second straight, 20-point game to lead the UTD women's basketball team to an impressive 73-59 win over the University of the Ozarks Saturday afternoon.

The win lifted the Comets (7-6, 6-4) into a half-game lead over Ozarks (7-7, 6-5) for second place in the ASC East Division race with a game at division leader Mississippi College on the menu for next Thursday.

The game was nip-and-tuck most of the first half...once the scoring got started. For the first five minutes of the game, neither team had hit a shot from the field, and Ozarks didn't even get on the board until Lindsey Nietert hit a three-pointer at the 14:59 mark of the first period.

Ozarks fought back from an early deficit and actually took a 17-15 lead on the Comets with 9:49 to go. The two teams traded leads and baskets throughout the remainder of the half before UTD finished with an 11-2 run (featuring seven points from Barnett) in the final 2:54 to take a 35-26 lead into the dressing room.

Ozarks got within five (35-30) to open the second half before Jennifer Longoria nailed a three-pointer and sent UTD on a 20-9 run over the next eight minutes to go up 55-39 with 8:51 remaining. Ozarks could not cut into the deficit after that.

Soto had 17 points and 12 rebounds in a rare start for the sophomore. Barnette had 20 points with 7 boards while Jennifer Longoria and Cassi Little combined for 23 points and each had seven rebounds. The Comets held Ozarks to a 31.8 percent day shooting and scored 22 points at the line, courtesy of 25 UO fouls.

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