SEGUIN, Texas-- Texas Lutheran Women's Basketball took a 17-point lead at the half and held off Centenary College for 61-45 home victory Friday night in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

The win gave Head Coach Mel Dixon his 700th career coaching victory - counting his combined wins as a collegiate coach and as a high school coach.

Dixon found production from a Bulldog bench that scored 31 points.

TLU moved to 8-15 overall and to 4-8 in the SCAC. The Ladies dropped to 8-15 overall and to 5-7 in conference.

TLU remains alive for an SCAC tournament berth, but the Bulldogs likely need at least one victory in its final two games. TLU plays SCAC-leading Austin College on Saturday and then Southwestern on the road next Friday.

There are five schools in the SCAC women's standings separated by two wins. TLU is a half-game behind Schreiner in the latest standings.

In the TLU win Friday, the Bulldogs held the Ladies to to only 11.5 percent from the field in the first half and to 22.9 (13-for-57) shooting percent for the game. Centenary did not have a made field goal in the first quarter.

TLU shot 44.9 percent overall and scored 18 points off of CC turnovers.
 
Leading the Bulldogs with 16 points and six blocks was junior forward Presley Stephens (Crandall/Crandall). She added 10 rebounds and a steal.

Sophomore guard Jordan Estrada (Marion/Marion) snagged five steals for the Bulldogs to go along with seven points, four rebounds and a block. Cami Davis (Marion/Marion/UT-Tyler) contributed eight points, three rebounds, an assist and a steal.

Abby Hroch (Port Lavaca/Calhoun) and Anna Koenig (Fredericksburg/Fredericksburg) each pulled down four rebounds and scored six points for TLU. Koenig added a steal and an assist.

For the Ladies, Jasmine Morris and Bre Frierson each scored eight points. Kayla King grabbed 11 rebounds and scored seven points.

TLU returns to action Saturday evening in the Doghouse, as they continue SCAC play against Austin College. Tip-off at 6 p.m. following the men's contest. Live video and stats will be able via tlubulldogs.com