CLARKSVILLE, Arkansas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team bounced back in a big way from its first Division III loss of the season as the Cru used a big third quarter to knock off University of the Ozarks 75-57 Saturday in Arkansas. UMHB improves to 5-2 overall and 1-1 in American Southwest Conference play with the victory. The loss drops the Eagles to 0-2 both overall and in the ASC on the season.
 
The Cru defense stifled Ozarks in the opening period, holding the Eagles to 2-13 shooting from the field and building a 15-6 lead. UMHB stretched the lead to 13 before Ozarks to within five points. The Cru closed the half with an 8-0 run and led 31-18 at halftime. UMHB really took control in the third quarter, outscoring the Eagles 25-14 to open up a 24-point advantage. The Cru would cruise to the win from there in a game UMHB never trailed.
 
Bethany McLeod led a balanced Cru offensive effort with 10 points. Madison McCoy added nine points as 16 different players scored for UMHB. Allaira Jones grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds as UMHB out rebounded the Eagles 48-29 on the day. The Cru shot 48 percent from the field as a team and hit 14-18 from the free-throw line.
 
Kerigan Bradshaw had a game-high 22 points to top Ozarks and Faith Curry chipped in 12. The Eagles shot just 28 percent from the field and were 2-15 from beyond the arc. Ozarks shot 28 free throws in the game and did force 20 UMHB turnovers.
 
UMHB will now return home to host a pair of ASC games next week. The Cru is slated to host Louisiana College on Thursday before closing out the weekend by welcoming Belhaven University to the Mayborn Campus Center on Saturday.