RICHARDSON, Texas – Trailing by nine with five minutes to go, the East Texas Baptist University women's basketball team pulled off a stunning fourth quarter rally with 29 points and came away with a 61-56 victory over the University of Texas Dallas. This win puts ETBU's record at 15-9 and 8-7 in conference play and secures a spot in the American Southwest Conference Tournament for the first time since 2012-13.

With a minute and a half left in the game, Lauren Lee put in a layup to give ETBU a 50-49 lead that they would never relinquish. The next ninety seconds would seem like an eternity as ETBU and UTD would score a combined 16 points in that stretch. Only a pair of Morgan Garrett free throws would seal the comeback win.

For ETBU, Taylee Alexander and Garrett led the way in double figures with Alexander having 13 points and eight rebounds while Garrett had 11 points and four rebounds. April Leonard and Kaitlyn Packett had eight points each with Leonard having six rebounds, four assists, and four steals as well. For UTD, Micaela Gonzalez had 14 points and five rebounds while Kendall Festervand had 11.

As a team, UTD won two of the three shooting categories with 33.3% from the field while ETBUhad 31.7%. From three point range, UTD made 32% while ETBU made 25%. But ETBU maintained a 85%-58.8% edge in the free throw shooting. ETBU outrebounded UTD 46-38 and won the bench scoring battle 20-16.

UTD got off to a strong start as they scored the first six points of the game before a basket by Alexander put ETBU on the board. The Tigers would cut the lead down to 9-7 when Malaisia Chisholm hit a floating jumper and Packett would hit a three-pointer. But the Comets nailed a three pointer to end the first quarter with the score 12-7 in their favor.

UTD seemed to have the momentum continue for them in the second quarter. After a Packett three pointer made it 14-10, UTD went on a 9-0 surge to up their lead to 23-10. Leonard would key a 9-0 run to cut the lead to four with five points. Delia Hopkins had four points in the run. At halftime, the score was 23-19 in UTD's favor.

At the start of the third quarter, a three by Garrett tied the score at 23. Following a pair of baskets by Alexander to keep the score tied at 27, UTD had momentum going as buckets by Gonzalez and a three by McKenzie Patty made their lead grow to 38-30. In the end, UTD had an eight point edge going into the fourth quarter at 40-32.

The two teams exchanged baskets as Woodard, Hopkins, and Packett would score for ETBU. But UTD would keep their eight point lead intact and when Nicolette Erkman hit a jumper at the 5:04 mark, UTD's lead was at 47-38. That was when the Tigers took off as they went on a 12-2 run to take the lead. It was Garrett and Alexander who would be the catalysts as Garrett hit two three's while Alexander had a jumper and two free throws to cut the lead to one. This led to a basket by Lee and a lead that ETBU would never relinquish.

ETBU will play their final home game this Thursday night against Belhaven. It will also be senior night. Tip off time is at 5:30 pm.