SHERMAN, Texas - The No. 23-ranked Austin College women's basketball team overcame a late deficit to top Southwestern University 68-63 on Friday night in Hughey Gym. The 'Roos are now 19-3 overall and 12-3 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

Austin College went into the fourth quarter trailing 46-42 and found themselves down 53-48 with 6:10 left to play, but after Southwestern got a basket to make it 55-52 the 'Roos used a 9-0 run punctuated by a three from Addison Walling to take a 61-55 lead with 2:36 to play. Austin College would hold the lead the rest of the way, getting free throws from Ally Longaker, Kacie West, and Ann Savage down the stretch to ice the victory. After scoring just seven points in the third quarter, the 'Roos exploded for 26 in the fourth, with Longaker scoring 11 of her 17 points in the quarter.

The 'Roos got off to a quick start, taking a 10-2 lead in the first quarter before Southwestern narrowed the gap to 18-15 after one, and the Pirates would tighten the margin to 35-34 at halftime. Both teams struggled to get anything going offensively in the third, with Austin College hitting just 3-of-10 shots while Southwestern made 4-of-16. The 'Roos shot 54.5% from the field in the fourth, and hit 13-of-17 free throws in the quarter to come away with the victory.

West hit 3-of-5 from deep and all six of her free throw attempts to get her 19 points, and Longaker made 7-of-11 from the field and 3-of-4 from the free throw line while pulling down nine rebounds. Walling finished with eight points and six boards, and Ann Savage chipped in five points with 10 rebounds and nine assists. Maddy Hubych came off the bench to add seven points, and Lindsay Carter knocked down a pair of big threes in the win.

Lauren Fulenwider led Southwestern with 13 points, hitting 4-of-9 from deep, and Zhazze Brown added 12 points. Cecily Woolfolk scored 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the loss for Southwestern.

Austin College is home one more time tomorrow as the 'Roos host Texas Lutheran with tipoff set for approximately 6:00 p.m., with Senior Day recognition coming just after the completion of the men's game.