HOUSTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team saw a fourth-quarter lead slip away, but the Cru regained control in overtime on the way to an 85-77 victory over St. Thomas Friday night in Houston. UMHB, ranked 13^th in the country by the WBCA, improves to 2-1 on the year with the victory. The loss drops the Celts to 3-2 on the season.
 
The Cru rallied from a 46-41 deficit at the end of the third quarter by opening the fourth period with a 19-7 run to build a seven-point lead with 4:11 left in regulation. St. Thomas cut into the lead, but Alicia Blackwell hit two free-throws with 26 seconds left to put UMHB up 66-61. The Celts would score six of the final seven points of the period to even it at 67 and Blackwell was off the mark with a potential game-winning three at the buzzer. The Cru scored the first seven points of the extra session before the Celts rallied again to close to within 78-77 with 1:25 left. Hannah Holt buried a three-pointer on the next UMHB possession and Blackwell added four clutch free throws to put it away. The Cru forced three turnovers and a missed shot in the final 53 seconds of the contest. UMHB led 16-9 after the first period and the game was knotted at 23 at halftime.
 
Holt led the Cru with 21 points and Blackwell added 17 points and eight rebounds. Allaira Jones had 14 points and she matched Blackwell with eight boards. UMHB shot 50 percent from the field in the fourth quarter and finished at 39 percent for the game. The Cru hit 25-30 from the free-throw to help overcome a 49-43 rebounding deficit.
 
Bresha Holmes led four players in double figures with 16 points for St. Thomas. Alexya Castillo added 15 points and eight rebounds. The Celts went 13-31 from beyond the arc and shot 38 percent from the field on the night.
 
The UMHB women will continue their road trip with another non-conference game next Tuesday. The Cru will face Southwestern in a 5:30 pm start that day in Georgetown.