SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The Austin College women's basketball team saw its season come to a close in the first round of the NCAA Division III Championship on Friday evening, falling 78-63 to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. The 'Roos end the year with a record of 23-5.
Austin College grabbed a quick 5-4 lead but UMHB scored seven straight to make it 11-5 at the first media timeout, and the Crusaders would take a 22-16 lead after the first quarter. The Crusaders shot 50% from the field in the frame, while the 'Roos knocked down just 5-of-15 field goal attempts. The 'Roos came on strong to open the second quarter, using an 11-4 run capped off by a breakaway bucket by Natalie McCoy to take a 27-26 lead before UMHB responded with four quick points to make it 30-27. Ann Savage knocked down a jumper and Sarah Gwin hit one of two free throws to square things up at 30, but the Crusaders got the final basket of the half to make it 32-30 at the break.
The 'Roos went ice cold in the third quarter, scoring just one point in the first eight minutes and change as UMHB built a 38-33 lead, and after an Ally Longaker jumper to make it 38-33 with 1:43 left in the period, the Crusaders scored eight unanswered to push the margin to 46-33. Longaker scored again and Kacie West knocked down a pair of free throws to cut it to 47-37 heading into the fourth.
Mary Hardin-Baylor got hot to open up the fourth quarter, using an 8-1 run in the first two minutes to extend the lead to 55-38, and after another basket by Longaker the Crusaders scored again to make it 57-40 with 7:01 left to play. Savage scored eight straight for the 'Roos, including a pair of threes, and a Kacie West triple cut it to 63-51 with 3:39 remaining. Savage knocked down two more treys and added a pair of free throws to cut it to 70-59, and after a UMHB free throw, Sarah Gwin added a three of her own to make it 71-62 at the 1:09 mark. However, that's as close as things would get and the Crusaders knocked seven free throws in the final minute to hold off the comeback bid.
Savage hit 7-of-14 shots, including 4-of-8 from deep, to finish with 21 points, eight rebounds, and three steals to lead the 'Roos. Longaker added 12 points, and Gwin hit three treys on her way to 10 points. Overall, Austin College shot just 32.8% from the field as a team, while UMHB hit 47.4% from the field and outscoring Austin College 19-to-12 from the free throw line.