GEORGETOWN, Texas - In what felt more like a track meet at times than a basketball game the Pirates rose to the challenge to defeat the University of Dallas 81-67 on Saturday afternoon to improve to 6-4 on the year and 2-1 in the SCAC.

Dallas opened the game in a run and gun fashion while holding the Pirates to just one field goal in the opening four minutes.

Jordan Owens hit a hot streak to get the Pirates rolling and leading for the first time in the game,12-11 with 14:45 to play, scoring nine of SU's first 12 points. Annie Bourne cleaned up on the defensive end in the first half ripping down 10 boards to keep the Crusaders from more than one offensive attempt per possession.

After not hitting a three in the first 15 minutes of action UD made two within 20 seconds of each other to pull within one point, 30-29, with 4:40 to go in the half. Back to back layups by Chelsea Leeder, who posted 16 points in the opening frame including one layup as time expired, pushed the Pirates' lead to three, 38-35 at halftime.

UD came out of the break the same way they started the game and quickly took the lead back 39-38, but Southwestern came charging back and posted a 12-4 run to lead by nine, 51-42. Leeder's three-pointer with 9:27 to go put SU up by 14, their largest lead of the game, forcing the Crusaders into a timeout to stop the streak.

The timeout worked just momentarily as SU pressed on, extending their lead to 16, 74-58, with just over four minutes to go in the game and cruised to the 81-67 final.

Leeder led all scorers with 27 points on 10-19 shooting from the floor, 6-12 from three point range. Bourne ended the night with 18 boards to lead all rebounders while Owens added her fourth double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. As a team SU shot 40.8% from the floor and 36.8% from three point range while holding UD to 33.8% from the floor and 23.1% from long range.

Southwestern has a much deserved break as the holidays draw near and return to action at home December 28-29 as they host the annual Southwestern Holiday Classic.