MARSHALL, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team fell in overtime to the University of Texas at Dallas in the semifinal round of the 2022 American Southwest Conference Women's Basketball Championship Tournament Friday in Marshall.
Bethany McLeod opened scoring with a three-pointer at the 8:16 mark. UMHB led until 4:30 when Michaela Walker made a layup for the Comets, giving UTD an 8-7 lead. UT Dallas extended the lead to four points but
Alexia Martin hit a three-pointer with 11 seconds out to put the Cru back within one. UMHB did not lead again until 2:34 left in the second when
Olivia Champion hit a jumper for a 21-20 lead. UT Dallas followed that with a 6-0 run, holding a 26-21 halftime advantage.
UMHB opened the second half with a 7-0 run, led by
Kaitlyn Kollmorgen with five points. UT Dallas pulled away for a six-point lead late in the quarter but UMHB fought back, cutting the divide to three points heading into the fourth.
Arieona Rosborough hit a pair of free throws at 8:25 to give UMHB a fourth-quarter lead.
Bethany McLeod hit a three-pointer at 3:35 to give UMHB some insurance points. Alex Bowman tied the game for the Comets with a three-pointer at 0:09. UMHB called a timeout with four seconds remaining but missed the ensuing shot, sending the contest into overtime with a 47-47 tie.
UT Dallas took advantage of the extra time, outscoring the Cru 19-6 in the extra period to earn a 66-53 win.
Olivia Champion led the Cru with 12 points followed by McLeod with 11 and
Ashley Faux with nine. Rosborough and Kollmorgen led UMHB with nine boards each while Faux had a team-high three steals
UMHB moved to 22-4 with the loss while the Comets advances to the ASC Women's Basketball Championship. The Cru is currently ranked first in Region 10 and will await a decision about an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. The NCAA selection airs Monday, February 28
th at 1:30 p.m. on NCAA.com. UT Dallas will advance to face the winner of Hardin-Simmons and East Texas Baptist in the championship match on Saturday, February 26
th at 6 p.m.