Box Score
Belton, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team let a double-digit second half lead slip away, but the Cru came up big in the final minute and held on for a 57-55 victory over Schreiner University Thursday night in Belton. The UMHB women improve to 9-5 overall and 6-4 in American Southwest Conference play with the victory. The loss drops the Mountaineers to 4-9 overall and 2-7 in the ASC on the season.
The Cru opened the second half with a16-4 run to take a 36-25 lead with 14:26 remaining. That 11-point edge was the largest lead of the night for either team. But Schreiner quickly chipped away and the Mountaineers would take a 45-43 lead with 5:50 left to play.
Caitlin Barganier's three-pointer gave UMHB a 46-45 lead, but the Mountaineers again battled back and grabbed a 53-50 lead with 3:16 to go.
Cortney Poncik's three-pointer tied the game at 53 with 2:01 on the clock and
Landie Thompson put the Cru on top 55-53 with 1:24 remaining. Schreiner tied it on a pair of Olivia Swarner free-throws and had a chance to take the lead, but turned the ball over with 30 seconds left. Thompson was fouled with three seconds left and calmly knocked down both free throws to give UMHB a 57-55 lead. Kristy Guerra's desperation three was off the mark at the buzzer as the Cru held on for the victory. Schreiner led 21-20 at halftime after four lead changes and two ties in the first half.
Thompson topped UMHB with 21 points and she hit 9-10 from the field.
Lindsay Eaton added 12 points and a team-high six rebounds for the Cru.
Jenny Black added seven points for UMHB as eight different players scored.
Swarner was the big weapon for the Mountaineers, finishing with 16 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Guerra added eight points for Schreiner and dished off five assists.
UMHB shot 43 percent from the field and went 4-11 from three-point range. Schreiner shot just 32 percent from the field and was 4-17 from beyond the arc. The Mountaineers out rebounded the Cru 44-30 and went 15-20 from the free-throw line compared to 7-12 from the stripe for UMHB.
UMHB will now hit the road for a 1:00 PM tip-off against Texas Lutheran University Saturday in Seguin. The Cru women will then return home to host Hardin-Simmons University and McMurry University next week.
