RICHARDSON, Texas – A slow second quarter led to East Texas Baptist University playing from behind the rest of the game as the University of Texas Dallas held off the Tigers, 63-55. ETBU scored just six points and shot 15 percent in the second quarter as UTD took the lead. At the end of the game, ETBU was within two with just under a minute to go, but UTD went 6-of-8 from the free throw line in that time to secure the win. ETBU is now 6-9 and 3-4 in the ASC.
 
Kadia Ward and Tristan Smith scored in double figures. Ward led the way with a career-high 21 points and seven rebounds. Smith gave 12 points with six rebounds. Ashlynn Galvin recorded five assists. UTD's Amanda Crowninshield had 18 points.
 
ETBU shot just 28 percent from the floor making 31 percent from the arc and went 19-of-31 at the line (61 percent). UTD finished at 33 percent overall making 25 percent of their three-pointers and only 65 percent from the stripe. UTD out rebounded ETBU, 46-38, but ETBU forced 15 turnovers.
 
Leading in the first half, 17-13, ETBU looked to be in control heading into the second quarter. Michaela James started the game with a three-pointer but the game was then tied at five and seven. ETBU took a four-point lead, 15-11, at the 1:51 mark on a Smith three-pointer but UTD was within two, 15-13, with 1:09 left. Payton Hicks hit two free throws with 1:01 left for the four-point lead, 17-13, as neither team scored in the final minute.
 
It took almost seven minutes for ETBU to score in the second quarter as UTD went on a 7-0 run for a three-point lead, 20-17. Ward scored the first two points of the quarter on two free throws to pull within one, 20-19, at the 3:16 mark. Ward then tied the game at 23 on a fast break layup at 1:09 but UTD took a two-point halftime lead, 25-23, scoring with 46 seconds left. ETBU missed two shots in the final 30 seconds trying to tie the game.
 
UTD outscored ETBU, 22-15, in the third quarter pushing the lead to 10, 34-24, at the 6:35 mark on a three-pointer. With 4:31 left, UTD made it a 13-point lead, 43-30, as they scored 18 points in six minutes. Hannah Matthews hit two free throws at 2:18 to come within seven, 43-36, but UTD hit a jumper with three seconds left for a nine-point lead, 47-38, at the end of the quarter.
 
It stayed a double-digit lead for UTD just over two minutes into the fourth quarter, 50-40, on two free throws. Over the next three minutes, ETBU went on an 8-0 run to come within two, 50-48, with 4:35 left in the game. By the 2:05 mark, UTD moved the lead back to six points, 57-51, but two James free throws and a Hicks layup but ETBU within two, 57-55, with 54 seconds left. ETBU fouled UTD with 48 seconds left as the Comets hit both free throws and then missed their next two shots in a four-second period as UTD grabbed the rebound and foul. Making one-of-two free throws, UTD had a five-point lead, 60-55, with 31 seconds left. They went 3-o-4 from the line in the final 30 seconds for the eight point win, 63-55.
 
ETBU will travel to Clarksville, Ark., on Saturday to face off against the University of the Ozarks at 1:00 p.m.