GEORGETOWN, TEXAS - Southwestern women's basketball was in the midst of a five-game losing streak, not having won a game at home since mid-December. Although the game would be a fight to the very end, the Pirates snapped the losing streak in an overtime finale against Austin College on Friday night. 

The defense was the theme of the first quarter for both teams. Only a combined eighteen points were scored between the two teams. The Pirates had the 11-7 edge on Austin College at the end of the first thanks to outrebounding the 'Roos by a margin of 12-8. 

Both offenses gained a spark in the second quarter, and Austin College more than doubled their first-quarter point total, putting up sixteen points in the second. The Pirates held their own in the second, thanks to a second-quarter shooting percentage of 43 percent. Despite the sixteen points scored by the 'Roos, the Pirates had a one-point, 24-23, lead going into halftime. 

A motivated Austin College team came out of halftime and outscored the Pirates for the second quarter in a row, taking away the one-point lead from the Pirates and leading 37-34 by the end of the third. The Pirates were out-rebounded in the third quarter, and five turnovers allowed  Austin College enough to gain the momentum needed to take the lead. 

First-year guard Aniyah Burke took over the game for the Pirates in the fourth quarter, scoring eight points and two clutch three-pointers. Burke led both teams in scoring in the fourth and the Pirates were helped by a five-point quarter from sophomore guard Ellie Ward. Burke and Ward combined for all but three points leading the Pirates to their highest-scoring quarter of the contest and pushing the game into overtime. 

Overtime started tied 51-51, but Ward made sure that the advantage would be with the Pirates throughout OT. Ward dropped another five points in the five-minute overtime, and the Pirates never trailed. All it would take was another clutch free throw from Burke in the waning minutes to ensure the Pirates a nailbiting victory over Austin College.

Southwestern Women's Basketball turns around and faces the University of Dallas Crusaders on Saturday, January 21st, at 4:00 PM in the Robertson Center.