It’s closing out the games that presents most of the problems.
Holding firm to that same operating procedure, the Lady Crusaders saw a 15-point second-half lead evaporate as Texas-Dallas outscored UMHB 33-10 in the final 12 minutes to come away with a 72-64 victory in the ASC opener for both teams at Mayborn Campus Center.
The torrid shooting that led UMHB to a 12-point halftime lead disappeared in the second half as the Lady Comets methodically battled back into contention.
“They just turned up the pressure on us and we started taking quicker shots,” said UMHB coach Kim Kirkpatrick-Thornton, whose 0-3 team will be back in action at home at 5:30 Monday against the University of the Ozarks (Ark.). “We rushed our shots and our free throws are hurting us. Forty-two percent at the line is unacceptable.”
UMHB shot lights-out from the perimeter in the first half, hitting seven of 10 from 3-point range. Stacie Stephens, Caitlin Barganier and Jenny Black all had a pair of 3-pointers and Kallie White added one. The Lady Crusaders shot better than 50 percent from the field overall to take a 39-27 advantage into the break.
Just as finishing games has been the malady for the Lady Crusaders, starting them has been an issue for the Lady Comets (3-1).
“We weren’t playing our best and we weren’t taking care of the ball,” UT-Dallas coach Polly Thomason said. “We have a lot of freshmen and they didn’t realize what it’s like to play a conference game and that you have to take it to another level.”
The Lady Comets’ woeful shooting of the first half was replaced by higher-percentage shots and better perimeter looks out of their offense, and they ratcheted up the man pressure to take away some of the Lady Crusaders’ strengths.
UMHB appeared to still be very much in control through the first eight minutes of the second half. Following back-to-back Kellie Thomas buckets, the Lady Crusaders were up 54-39 at the 12:30 mark. But they went scoreless for the next 5:20, going 0-for-9 from the field.
In the meantime, the Lady Comets chipped away at the Lady Crusader lead with 10 consecutive points.
Mallory McAdams ended the Lady Crusaders’ scoreless drought with a 10-footer, but the Lady Comets were just getting revved up. They scored on 11 straight possessions, taking the lead - 62-61 - for the first time since the opening minutes on a Lyndsey Smith 3.
“We just hit a wall,” Kirkpatrick-Thornton said. “We’ve got to find a way to finish a game.”
A Landie Thompson free throw tied it with 4:06 to play, but the Lady Comets outscored UMHB 10-2 to put the game away.
“A couple of our shooters got hot and we started executing our offense,” Thomason said.
Stephens and Thompson had 12 points apiece to pace the Lady Crusaders and Barganier (Academy) added 10. Thompson and Thomas both pulled down six rebounds.
Smith led the way for the Lady Comets with 18 points, including four 3s. Lauren Jiles posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 boards.
“These (conference) teams are tough,” Kirkpatrick-Thornton said. “We will continue to adjust and work these things out."
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