Ladies Basketball Fall Short at SCAC Leader Austin College, 70-61

Ladies Basketball Fall Short at SCAC Leader Austin College, 70-61

SHERMAN, Texas – The Ladies Basketball team rallied from a nine-point deficit in the third quarter to take a lead in the fourth, but a 16-2 run by the 'Roos put the home team in the lead by double-digits as Centenary (4-13, 2-6 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) fell to Austin College (14-3. 7-1 SCAC) in the regular season series finale Tuesday night, January 22.

The Ladies trailed 52-45 with 1:38 to go in the third, but an 8-2 run to end the quarter pulled the Ladies within one heading into the fourth. Freshman Priya Ponia hit a three and made a layup to pull Centenary within a possession. After a pair of free throws by Austin College, sophomore Darelzray Bellard hit a three shortly before the end of the quarter to pull the Ladies within one.

Senior Savanah Doty hit a free throw and Bellard drilled a three out of a timeout with 8:24 left in the game to put the Ladies ahead in the fourth. It was Centenary's first lead since 10-8 in the first quarter.

Doty led Centenary and matched her career high in both points (21) and field goals (eight). Earlier in the contest down 27-21, Doty hit back-to-back threes to tie the game and help the Ladies recover from a double-digit first half deficit.

Ponia came off the bench for 11.

However, Austin College took advantage of only seven miscues to Centenary's 18 and a 15-8 edge in points off turnovers. The 'Roos took held a 61-59 lead with four minutes left in the game, but nine unanswered pushed their lead to double-digits. Kacie West made a layup followed by three points thanks to the hoop and harm. Both teams failed to score in the next minute until Bryce Frank made a layup.

Two free throws by the 'Roos gave the home to an 11-point lead, but a sophomore Bre Frierson layup for the Ladies proved to be the final score of the game.

Frank made all 11 attempts from the foul line and finished with 27 points and 10 boards. Addison Walling scored 13.

Centenary returns to action for its final game in January on Sunday the 27th against Schreiner in Shreveport. Tip-off is scheduled for noon.