AUSTIN, Texas – The Tornados celebrated the careers of
LeeAnn Stephens,
Kaycie Dunkerley,
Payton Berger and
Alyssa Marquez with postgame senior day festivities, but not before the quartet of players combined for 46 points, leading the Concordia Texas women's team to their third win a row, defeating Sul Ross State 78-56 on Saturday inside Concordia Fieldhouse.
The Tornados stayed hot from outside the arc, knocking down double-digit 3-pointers for the third straight game, led by the shooting of Dunkerley, who made a game-high five 3-pointers on her way to a 15-point performance.
Dunkerley is now nine 3-pointers away from breaking the conference record for most 3-pointers made in a career.
Berger, meanwhile, was efficient offensively, shooting 50 percent from the field, including a 4-of-7 mark from downtown, producing a game-high 17 points along with seven rebounds. Marquez, off the bench, registered a career-high four 3-pointers made, finishing the day with 12 points and dishing out five assists.
In the opening quarter, CTX shot 50 percent from field, aided by
Kennedy Donovan's six points, and closed out the period on a 11-2 run capped off by Donovan's 3-pointer and led 20-13 after one.
In the second, Berger and
Madi Maxwell combined for 10 of the Tornados' 15 points in the quarter and took a 35-24 advantage into halftime.
Sul Ross State did not go quietly in the second half, using a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to 40-33 with 5:29 left in the third quarter. The Tornados responded quickly though as Berger knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to push the lead back to double digits.
Concordia Texas would take their largest lead of the day in the fourth quarter, reeling off seven straight points to take a 22-point advantage after
Sam Hopper's layup. Dunkerley scored six points in the final frame as the Tornados cruised to a 78-56 win over the Lobos.
Concordia Texas will go for their fourth consecutive win when they travel to Longview, Texas for a showdown against LeTourneau on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.