RICHARDSON, Texas — The Southwestern University Pirates women's basketball team struggled defensively in an 84-65 loss to the University of Texas-Dallas Comets on the road. 

Southwestern jumped out to an early 17-12 lead on the strength of its second unit but the Pirates surrendered an 11-3 run to close the first quarter down 23-20.

Texas-Dallas guard Raenett Hughes caught fired in the second quarter, scoring 12 of her game-high 24 points, shooting 5-for-7 in the quarter. Cecily Woolfolk scored eight in the quarter to keep Southwestern within striking distance, trailing 44-36 at the half. 

The Pirate offense sputtered in the third quarter, shooting just 4-for-14 (28.6 percent) with seven turnovers to be outscored 22-12 and trail 66-48 headed into the fourth quarter, putting the game out of reach. 

Southwestern got a big game from Lauren Fulenwider, who scored 17 points, hitting 5-for-7 from deep, to lead the Pirates in scoring off the bench. Noel Pratts and Woolfolk joined her in double figures, scoring 15 and 11 points. 

Pratts was 7-for-18 from the field with five rebounds and five steals. Woolfolk struggled with efficiency but got to the free-throw line 10 times, hitting five and pulled down six rebounds. 

Three Comets scored in double figures as Texas-Dallas shot 48.4 percent from field, including 9-for-22 from the 3-point line. The Comets out-rebounded the Pirates 41-30, pulling down 14 offensive rebounds to outscore the Pirates 15-7 in second-chance points. 

With the loss, the Pirates drop to 0-3 on the season. Southwestern will resume action on Thursday, Nov. 21 for its home opener against Concordia Texas.