AUSTIN, Texas – Falyn Taylor turned in a stellar performance, pouring in a career-high 22 points, and lifted the Concordia Texas women's basketball team to a 72-61 victory over McMurry on Thursday.
Taylor was a threat from deep throughout the game, shooting 4-of-9 from beyond the arc, and made use of her free throws with a 6-of-7 night from the stripe.
Natalie Velardez also turned in a stellar performance, posting a near double-double with 17 points and eight boards on 3-of-5 shooting from deep.
The Tornados took a 10-8 lead at the 2:00 mark of the first quarter and never looked back, holding the advantage for the remainder of the game. A McMurry run in the final quarter put them within striking distance, but CTX was able to hold on and secure their second straight victory.
In the first quarter, back-to-back buckets from Erin Toro and Havyn Perez gave the Tornados their first lead at 4-2 with 6:24 remaining in the period.
Perez and Toro followed with another pair of field goals, and a three-ball from Kennedy Donovan put an exclamation point on the quarter. At the end of the opening period, the Tornados led 13-10.
Taylor and Velardez caught fire in the second quarter as each of them scored 11 points, shooting a combined 4-of-7 from deep. The pair led the Tornados to a huge period, scoring 22 of the CTX's 23 points in the quarter, and secured a 36-23 lead heading into the break.
The Tornados opened the second half on a 13-5 run behind another pair of three-pointer from Taylor and Velardez, taking a 49-28 with 6:18 remaining in the third quarter.
A pair of free throws from Chelsea Cogborn extended the CTX lead to 23 points, but seven unanswered points from the War Hawks cut into the advantage. Heading into the final quarter, the Tornados led 52-36.
The War Hawks opened the final quarter on a tear, knocking the CTX lead down to 54-45 after a 9-2 run.
With 2:18 left in the game, McMurry had cut the Tornados' lead to 60-57, but Perez provided nine points down the stretch, icing the game and securing a 72-61 win for Concordia Texas.
Riding two straight victories, Concordia Texas will continue their play at home against Hardin-Simmons. The Tornados will host the Cowgirls on Saturday, preparing for a 1 p.m. tipoff in Concordia Fieldhouse in Austin, Texas.
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