AUSTIN, Texas – Payton Berger shot 6-of-12 from the field, scoring a season-high 18 points, but the Concordia Texas women's basketball team fell to UT Dallas 81-55 on Thursday inside Concordia Fieldhouse.

The Tornados, playing their first home game since Dec. 6, had three players finish in double figures, led by Berger's efficient offensive performance, which included a 3-for-5 mark from behind the arc.

In the opening quarter, the game had eight lead changes between CTX and the Comets. UT Dallas retook the lead late in the quarter, using an 8-0 run and led 24-17 after one.

The Tornados did not go down without a fight though, pulling within two after Berger converted the layup and the free throw midway through the period. The Comets used another late quarter spurt and took a double-digit advantage of 40-27 into the locker room at halftime.

In the third, UTD blew open the game, hitting five 3-pointers and outscoring CTX 30-15 in the frame.

Concordia Texas outscored the Comets in the final quarter, but it was too little, too late for the Tornados, falling 81-55 in their first game of the new year.

Along with her 18 points, Berger also grabbed a team-high six boards. Madi Maxwell, meanwhile, scored seven of her 13 points in the first quarter and snagged four rebounds on the night. Kaycie Dunkerley added 10 points despite a rough outing from downtown, hitting only one 3-pointer for the game.

Concordia Texas will have a quick turnaround when they welcome Ozarks into town on Saturday at 1 p.m. inside Concordia Fieldhouse, searching for their first conference win of the season.