BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team closed out the regular season in style with a suffocating defensive effort in an 80-41 win over Howard Payne Saturday in Belton. The Cru finishes the regular season at 23-2 overall and 15-1 in American Southwest Conference play. Howard Payne drops to 11-14 overall and 8-8 in the ASC with the loss.
 
UMHB opened the game with a 15-3 run and was never really challenged in the contest. The Cru held HPU to three field goals in the opening period and led 21-9. The lead grew to 44-22 at halftime. UMHB dominated the third quarter and held the Lady Jackets to two points on 1-15 shooting to stretch the lead to 59-24 going into the final stanza. The Cru was 7-14 in the final period to roll to the victory.
 
Hannah Holt led a balanced UMHB scoring effort with 17 points and she added nine rebounds. Aubrie Elliott added 13 points and nine boards. Alicia Blackwell, Bethany McLeod and Allaira Jones all scored 10 points apiece and 11 different players scored for the Cru. UMHB shot 48 percent from the field as a team and out rebounded Howard Payne 51-42.
 
Chelsey Harris was the only player in double figures for the Lady Jackets with 16 points. Caprice Brooks had eight points and eight rebounds. HPU shot just 21 percent as a team and turned the ball over 19 times in the loss.
 
The Cru women clinched the ASC West Division title and will play host to the ASC Championship Tournament next week. Quarterfinal games will be played Thursday at the Mayborn Campus Center with UMHB slated to take on Louisiana College in a 7:30 pm start. Semifinal games are on Friday with the championship game set for 6 pm on Saturday.