Austin College women 94, LeTourneau University women 64
SHERMAN, Tx – The Austin College women’s basketball team got things started right on Senior Day, jumping out to a 10-3 lead against LeTourneau University before downing the Lady Jackets 94-64 in American Southwest Conference action Saturday afternoon in Sherman. The 94 points is the most in recent years for the ’Roos, surpassing their 91-point performance earlier this season against the Lady Jackets.
Senior Velencia Johnson had a big day for the ’Roos pouring in 16 points, in large part due to a 10-of-13 performance from the free-throw line. As a team Austin College was 80% from the charity stripe, improving their league-best season average to 73%. Sophomore Stephanie Knudson continued her three-point shooting flurry, connecting on 7-12 from long range. Knudson poured in a game-high 25 points. Junior Libby Kellum also got in the scoring action rounding out double-digit scorers for the ’Roos with 11 on the afternoon.
The Lady Jackets tried to keep things close, relying on 12 first-half points from DeNee McKay to keep the score within six at the break, but the ’Roos had an 18 point lead by the 12 minute mark, largely due to three Knudson 3-pointers. Kellum also got in on the long-range action during the run, draining a three of her own. Junior post Kristen Davis was the ’Roos leading rebounder, pulling in seven boards in the contest.
Mckay led LeTourneau with 18 points in the contest. The Lady Jackets fall to 2-23 on the season and 2-20 in league action.
The Kangaroos (17-7, 15-7), who finish the season in second place in the ASC East Division due to a UT-Tyler victory over Mississippi College, will hold the #1 seed in the East for the ASC Championship Tournament and play the West Division #4 seed Concordia University-Austin. Hardin-Simmons captured the West Division Championship Saturday afternoon and will host the tournament next week in Abilene. Action starts Friday afternoon. Game times and pairings will be released early next week.
Austin College Men 83, LeTourneau Men 78
The Austin College men’s basketball team finished the 2004-2005 season behind 66 points from their three seniors, downing LeTourneau 83-78 in ASC action Saturday afternoon in Sherman. J.P. Johnson led the seniors and all scorers with 30 points on 6 threes and 8-of-9 free-throw shooting.
Austin College jumped out to a quick lead, taking a six point advantage into the intermission. Johnson accounted for 17 Austin College first-half points on a 4-6 early game performance from long distance. The Yellowjackets fought back in the second half, tying the game with two minutes to play. With a one-point advantage and 48 seconds to play, Sissney got the ball under the basket and converted the lay-up to give the ’Roos a three point lead that LeTourneau was unable to overcome.
LeTourneau relied heavily on the guard play of Jonathan Collins who scored a team high 21 points, but was unable to overcome a 53% shooting performance by Austin College. LeTourneau dropped to 5-20 on the season and 4-18 in conference action.
The Kangaroos finished their season 7-18 overall and 6-16 in ASC play.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the American Southwest Conference.
Austin College, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), is an independent, liberal arts college located 60 miles north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas. Chartered in November 1849, it is the oldest college in Texas under original charter and name as recognized by the State Historical Survey Committee.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Austin College among the top 100 colleges in the category of "Best Liberal Arts Colleges" for 2005. Austin College also ranked among the "Best 357 Colleges" in the 2005 Princeton Review, was profiled in Loren Pope's Colleges That Change Lives, and was profiled in the 2005 edition of Kaplan's Insiders Guide to the 331 Most Interesting Colleges.