11.25.07
UTD Overruns Schreiner, TLU To Open ASC
Comets Take First Two Conference Games By Combined 76 Points
KERRVILLE/SEGUIN, TX - The UTD women's basketball team opened its 2007-08 American Southwest Conference schedule with a pair of convincing road wins over Schreiner and Texas Lutheran Universities.
The Comets, who won their third and fourth straight games to improve to 4-1, demolished both ASC West Division opponents, defeating Schreiner 83-53; then pummeled Texas Lutheran, 92-46. The 4-1 start marks only the second time in school history that the UTD women have started a season with a winning record this far into the season. The 2001-02 Comets started 5-0.
The UTD trio of (pictured above, left to right) senior Jenise Langston, sophomore Chelsea Edwards and senior Ericka Baker each scored in double figures in both games, posting a combined 99 points. Newcomer Kelly Canady added 22 points in the two-game road trip as Coach Polly Thomason got to empty her bench in both contests.
UTD shot a remarkable 73-for-142 (.514) from the field in the two games, and forced 53 opponent turnovers.
In the Schreiner game, guard Tawni Ichimura's layup with 12:50 to go in the first half gave UTD a 12-11 lead, sparking a 28-7 run over the next 10 minutes that gave the Comets a 38-18 lead that they stretched to 46-25 at the half. The Comets then stretched their advantage to as many as 34 points (73-39 at 7:35) by opening the second period on a 27-14 run.
Baker came off the bench to lead four Comets in double figures with 17 points. Edwards added 16 points and seven rebounds while Langston had 13 points with 5 boards. Canady also added a season-best 12 points in a reserve role. The Comets forced 23 Schreiner turnovers.
Oddly enough, this game was close until UTD finally went ahead (20-19) for good at the 6:23 mark of the first half on a Baker jumper. The comets then finished the first half on a 26-11 run to go up 44-30 at halftime; and went to work again in the second half, running off an 18-2 run to go ahead 62-32 with 14:30 left in the game. UTD stretched that lead to 46 points by the end of regulation.
Langston led UTD in scoring for the fourth time in five games this season, posting a 24-point, six rebound afternoon. She had 19 of those points after halftime. Edwards finished with 18 points.