The University of Dallas women’s basketball team split a pair of games last weekend, first with a loss against conference opponent Austin College and then with a win against Southwestern Adventist University. The win over the Knights was the first victory the Crusaders have had at home this season.
On Tuesday, the Crusaders played closely with Austin, ending the first quarter 14-9. Freshman Faith Starnes had 6 of her 11 points for the game in the first quarter going 2-2 from the 3 point line. The ’Roos then erupted in the second quarter taking a 38-18 halftime lead. Things got worse for the Crusaders in the second half of the game, as the ’Roos coasted to victory 80-41.
Starnes finished the game shooting 4-7 from the field and 3-6 from the 3 point line for her 11 points and added 6 rebounds. Junior Gracie Williams led the Crusaders with 13 points for the game and also had 5 rebounds. Freshman Alexis Vera tied a career high in assists with four and set a new career high in steals with four.
On Saturday the Crusaders faced off against Southwestern Adventist for their final non-conference home game of the season. The Crusaders battled hard against the Knights in the first half, leading by a slim 13-12 margin after one quarter and 28-24 at halftime. UD put some comfortable distance between themselves and the Knights as they outscored the Knights by 10 in the third. The defense then clamped down and brought the game home. Southwestern Adventist managed to score only 3 points for the whole fourth quarter.
Three Crusaders, Williams, sophomore Vanessa Diaz and freshman Faith Weisbruch, played the entire 40-minute game. Williams led the team again in scoring with 14 points, tying a career high. Diaz had her sixth double-double of the season with 13 points and a career high 19 rebounds. Sophomore Jules Oliveti had her third double-double of the season with 12 points and boards apiece. Freshman Anna Stevenson made her collegiate debut scoring 4 points, garnering 5 rebounds and tied with Oliveti with the team lead for the game in blocks with 2.
UD moves to 2-18 for the season and 1-10 in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) after the weekend. The Crusaders will conclude their home schedule this week with games against Centenary College of Louisiana on Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 5:30 p.m., Texas Lutheran University on Friday, Feb. 8 at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 9 against Schreiner University at 4 p.m.
