RICHARDSON, Texas - Plagued by cold shooting in the first half, the East Texas Baptist University women's basketball team fell to #25 the University of Texas Dallas, 70-52, in American Southwest Conference East Division play. ETBU is now 16-5 overall and 10-2 in ASC East and a game behind UTD for first place.
 
Paige Royal was ETBU's top scorer with 16 points off the bench while Kendrick Clark tallied 12 points. Kim Childress finished as ETBU's leading rebounder with five boards. Raenett Hughes (18 points) and Maddie Edler (11 points) both finished in double figures to lead UTD.
 
ETBU was outshot 39.2%-32.7% from the floor despite both teams knocking down eight threes. While their bench outscored the Comets, 28-21, the Tigers trailed in the points in the paint department, 19-15.
 
ETBU would grab the early lead with Clark tallying the Tigers' first five points of the day. A jumper by Amanda Wilson (5:10) would make the score 7-4, but the Tigers would manage just one more free throw in the quarter while the Comets would put in eight points to lead 12-8 at the end of the quarter.
 
Things wouldn't get easier for ETBU in the second quarter. Hanna Hudson hit a three to start the quarter but UTD would go on a 10-2 run (5:49-3:25) to lead 22-13. Clark would make a layup while the Comets would hit a free throw to take a 23-15 lead at halftime.
 
The Comets' momentum carried into the third quarter as they tallied 11 of the first 13 points to lead 34-17. ETBU would bring the game back to single digits at 37-28 (5:00), including a pair of Royal three-pointers (6:24, 5:20). But again, UTD would retake the double-digit lead at 44-31 through three quarters of play.
 
ETBU would only come as close as 47-35 in the fourth quarter. Royal would have a strong quarter with 10 points. UTD would push their lead to more than 20 in the last three minutes of the game. In the end, the Tigers were unable to catch the Comets.
 
ETBU will host Mary Hardin-Baylor this Thursday at 5:30 PM in Ornelas Gymnasium.