Comets Strong In Season-Opening Split

Rally Falls Short Against Trinity; But UTD Blows Out Benedictine

SAN ANTONIO , TX - The UTD women's basketball team got its 2007-08 campaign off to a respectable start over the weekend, splitting a pair of games at the Trinity Tournament.

UTD rallied late, but could not catch the host Trinity team, falling 63-59 in their opener Saturday. But Sunday, the Comets (1-1) took charge early and ran away with a dominating 77-62 win over Benedictine (IL).

Senior Jenise Langston(pictured above left), who averaged just 7.2 points per game last season, led the Comets with 36 points in two games while sophomore Chelsea Edwards (above, right) tossed in 27 points.

Despite a poor shooting day and being out-rebounded by 20, the Comets came very close to knocking off the tournament hosts in their opener. UTD rallied from a 40-33 halftime deficit to pull to within two with just over a minute left. But the Lady Tigers got an insurance bucket and the Comets could not convert on several last-minute attempts. Ericka Baker led the Comets with 15 points while Langston had 14. UTD turned the ball over 18 times, but forced 32 Trinity errors.

Playing without Baker Sunday, Langston cranked up her game with a career-high 21-point performance, which included three 3-point baskets. The Comets led Benedictine from the start, stretching the lead to as many as 19 points (66-47) midway through the second half. Newcomers Tawni Ichimura and Kori Joyce also had their first double-figure outings, with 11 points each. Tarneisha Scott pulled down seven rebounds in the win.

BOXSCORES: TRINITY | BENEDICTINE