Box Score

The University of North Texas at Dallas women launched their 2021-22 basketball season Saturday (Oct. 23) with a performance that promised better days are ahead. In control from the tip-off, the Trailblazers dominated visiting Paul Quinn College for an 86-68 victory that could have been even more decisive had it not been for the hosts' brief third quarter cold spell.

Keyed by the long-range shooting of guard ShanDrea Yeldell and an aggressive defense, the host raced out to a 40-25 halftime advantage. From that point on the only questions were the margin of the UNTD victory and the status of sophomore standout Aja' White who suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury in the second quarter, leaving the court on crutches.

While Paul Quinn, also playing its season opener, narrowed the margin to seven points late in the third period and again in the fading stages of the fourth, the Trailblazers were able to quickly regain control,.

"I was proud of the way we competed until the end of the game," said coach Rodney Belcher, whose team went 2-7 as an associate member of the NAIA last year. "Our experienced players did a good job and for our younger players it was a good experience. I was pleased that those on the bench remained engaged in the game throughout." His lone concern was the fact his team experienced foul trouble late in the game.

Junior Mykayla Dumas led the Trailblazers scoring with 21, followed by Yeldell's 19 and Zyunn Cormier's 18.

The victors played without the services of veteran guard Brooke Lopez who is recovering from a high ankle sprain.

Senior Symone Carmenar led the Paul Quinn scorers with 22 points.

The Trailblazers will next face Huston-Tillotson at 2 p.m. Saturday at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship as part of UNTD's Homecoming celebration.