BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team outscored Whitman in every quarter as the Cru pulled away for a 78-58 victory over the Blues Saturday evening in Belton. UMHB improves to 5-1 on the year with the victory. The loss drops Whitman to 6-1 on the season. The two teams were tied for 12^th in the country in this week's WBCA Top 25 Coaches Poll.
 
UMHB led 19-14 after the opening period and stretched it out to a 35-28 lead at halftime. Whitman closed to within five points midway through the third quarter, before the Cru responded to take the lead out to as many as 15 points headed into the fourth. The Blues never got closer than 10 points the rest of the way as UMHB was able to pull away down the stretch.
 
Hannah Holt led the Cru with 20 points. Ke'Aunna Johnson and A'Lexiss Benton added 11 points apiece off the bench and Allaira Jones chipped in 10 points. Kandyce Shepard and Alicia Blackwell both grabbed eight rebounds to lead UMHB. The Cru shot 46 percent from the field as a team and out rebounded Whitman 42-31 on the night. UMHB also forced 20 turnovers in the contest.
 
Makana Stone topped the Blues with 22 points and 10 rebounds, but no other player scored more than six points. Whitman shot 41 percent from the field on the night.
 
The UMHB women return to action with a 7:30 pm tip-off against Texas Wesleyan next Thursday at the Mayborn Campus Center. The Cru will then play at Rhodes College on December 15^th in the final game before the Christmas break.