BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team opened the 2016-2017 season with a 10-point win over Southwestern University Tuesday evening in Belton. The 80-70 victory opened UMHB at 1-0 on the season while the Pirates opened at 0-1.
 
UMHB led by as many as five in the first quarter and held that until 3:46 left in the second quarter when Southwestern tied the game at 30. UMHB then went on an 8-4 scoring streak to take a 38-34 lead into halftime. UMHB did not trail again, leading by as many as 10 points in the third quarter and holding at least a seven-point advantage for the duration of the fourth. UMHB shot 36.1 percent in the contest with a 42.1 percentage mark in the third quarter. Jonelle Smith led the Cru with 15 points, followed by Kendall Rollins with 13 and Kendra Wynn with 12. Wynn also opened the season with a double-double, leading UMHB with 12 rebounds followed by Smith with nine and Haven Neal with eight. UMHB totaled 62 rebounds in the game, adding 19 assists and five steals.

Tori Carraway led the Pirates with 18 points while Madison Edwards added ten. Southwestern shot 33.9 percent in the contest, 21.1 percent from beyond the arc and 68.6 percent from the free throw line. The Pirates totaled 41 rebounds, 15 assists and five steals.
 
UMHB returns to action on Friday, Nov. 18^th in a 6 p.m. (PT) game at Whitworth University in Spokane, Wash.  The Cru will then play Whitman College in a 2 p.m. (PT) game on Saturday, Nov. 19^th before returning home to host Schreiner University at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 22^nd.