BOX SCORE AUSTIN, Texas – The Concordia Texas women's basketball team survived a comeback effort from Belhaven, outlasting the Blazers and holding on for a 56-53 win on senior day on Saturday.
 
The Tornados led by 14 heading into the final quarter, but Belhaven picked up steam and took the lead in the final three minutes. However, Havyn Perez took over, scoring the final six points, and the Tornados secured a win in the regular season finale.
 
Prior to the game, Concordia Texas took time to honor the team's seniors, Allie Garza, Erin Toro, Falyn Taylor, and Natalie Velardez, for their hard work and dedication to the program.
 
In the first quarter, Garza led the way with four points as the Tornados started the game on a tear.
 
A Mikayla Johnson three-pointer at the 6:18 mark gave the Tornados an early 7-2 lead. They continued to build on the lead, and another three-pointer, this time from the hand of Velardez, closed out the first-quarter scoring and gave CTX an 18-6 lead.
 
The Tornados kept the pressure on in the second quarter as another bucket from Velardez extended the lead further, bringing the score to 22-8 with 5:26 to play in the half.
 
Chelsea Cogborn came alive in the final five minutes of the half, leading the Tornados on an 11-5 run with six points of her own. At the break, CTX held a lopsided 33-13 lead.
 
In the third quarter, Concordia Texas was outscored 23-17, but six points from Toro kept the offense chugging.
 
The Blazers cut the lead to 12 with 2:15 left in the period, but a 10-6 run capped off by a finish in the lane from Kennedy Donovan kept the Blazers at arm's length. Heading into the final quarter, the Tornados led 50-36.
 
Belhaven mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, opening the period on an 11-0 run and cutting the lead down to 50-47 with 4:41 to play.
 
With 2:40 on the clock, the Tornados found themselves on the trailing end for the first time in the game as a bucket put the Blazers ahead 51-50.
 
Perez took control down the stretch, scoring the final six points for Concordia Texas.
 
She tied the game at 52-52 with a pull-up jumper at the 1:09 mark, but Belhaven answered by getting to the line and making a free throw, putting them ahead 53-52.
 
With 27 seconds remaining, Perez hit another clutch jumper, putting CTX back in front 54-53.
 
Finally, she iced the game with a pair of makes at the charity stripe, sealing a 56-53 victory for the Tornados.
 
With the regular season at a close and their ticket to the American Southwest Conference Tournament booked, Concordia Texas will now look towards the postseason. The no. 7 seeded Tornados will open the tournament, held in Marshall, Texas, against the hosting and no. 2 seeded East Texas Baptist University at 7:30 p.m.