Women's Hoops Rallies Past Centenary

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College women's basketball team an ice-cold first half to come from behind and earn a last-second win over Centenary, with Avory Miller knocking down a pair of free throws with 1.85 seconds to play making it a 63-61 final on Friday night in Hughey Gym. The 'Roos are now 8-15 overall and 4-11 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

Lexi Martin scored 21 points to lead Austin College, with eight of those points coming in the first quarter to keep the 'Roos in it early as Centenary took a 15-11 lead after one. Austin College hit just 3-of-15 field goal attempts in the opening quarter, and the 'Roos were limited to nine second quarter points after making just 3-of-13 in the period. That sent Centenary into halftime holding a 28-20 lead. The margin grew to 40-28 on a Layla Powell three pointer with 6:12 left in the third, and the Ladies went up 44-30 with 3:48 on the clock.

Brooklyn Matthews and Taiyla Williams combined for nine straight for Austin College as the 'Roos cut it to a 44-39 game, and after a basket from Centenary to end the run, Grace Moothart knocked down a pair of free throws just before the end of the quarter to make it 46-41 heading into the fourth. Williams scored to trim it to 51-50 with 5:48 left to play, and just over a minute later, Martin drilled a triple to tie things up at 53 apiece. Austin College took the lead on a pair of Kaylee Smith free throws and maintained control heading into the final minute of play, but Phillips scored three points in the final minute to bring the Ladies level at 61 all. However, Miller drew a foul with 1.85 seconds left and made both attempts to give Austin College the two-point victory.

After the poor-shooting first half, the 'Roos made 46.7% from the field in the second to mount their comeback. Martin got her game-high point total on 7-of-16 shooting, including 4-of-10 from long range, and Miller finished with eight points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. Matthews chipped in six points and 12 boards, and Williams came off the bench to score 10 on 3-of-3 shooting amd 4-of-6 free throws. Powell led Centenary with 17 points while Shyanne Phillips had 15 points and 14 rebounds.

Austin College closes the season on Sunday, as the 'Roos host the University of the Ozarks at 1:00 p.m.