AUSTIN, Texas – The Concordia Texas women's basketball team overcame an early deficit, climbing back into the game with strong play in the second and third quarters, but ultimately fell short 67-58 to Southwestern on Tuesday.
 
This was the third matchup between the two teams this season as the Tornados took the first game 55-44 on Nov. 5 and the second game 55-46. In the season series, CTX came away 2-1 against the Pirates.
 
Erin Toro and Kennedy Donovan were the Tornados' top scorers on the night with eight points each, and Natalie Velardez posted seven points and a career-high 14 rebounds.
 
The Pirates began the first quarter with an 8-0 run before Madi Maxwell hit a jumper for CTX's first points of the game, bringing the score to 8-2 with 7:16 left in the first quarter. The Pirates stretched their lead further, but a bucket from Havyn Perez at the 2:49 mark sparked a 9-4 Tornados' run to end the period. Chelsea Cogborn converted a traditional three-point play and Allie Garza capped off the run with a fastbreak basket, and Concordia Texas climbed back into the game, ending the first quarter down 20-15.
 
The second quarter began slowly, but a three-pointer from Velardez put the first points on the board with 8:27 remaining. Jessica Amezaga followed with another basket beyond the arc, bringing the score to 23-20, and a bucket in the paint from Erin Toro eventually gave the Tornados their first lead of the night with a 26-24 advantage at the 5:48 mark. The two teams traded baskets, and a pair of free throws from Amari Grace and a Maxwell three-ball kept the Tornados within one. At the end of the half, SWU led 35-34.
 
In the third quarter, a pair of long-range baskets from Falyn Taylor saw the Tornados take a 42-40 lead with 6:51 to play in the period, and Donovan scored all eight of her points in the quarter, including a three-pointer at the 1:52 mark that tied the game at 50-50. A layup from Velardez gave CTX a 52-50 lead, but Southwestern converted four free throws in the final minute of the period. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Tornados trailed 54-52.
 
Maxwell, Perez, and Toro each registered buckets in the fourth quarter, but the Pirates pulled away down the stretch. After the final buzzer, the Tornados fell 67-58 to Southwestern.
 
Perez ended the night with six points and five assists, and Grace came away with six points and nine rebounds.
 
The Tornados will look to bounce back on Thursday as they begin American Southwest Conference play, hosting Ozarks for their conference opener at 5:30 p.m. in Concordia Fieldhouse.