BELTON, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team defeated Howard Payne University 77-53 on Saturday afternoon in Belton. The Cru improved to 11-2 overall and 8-0 in the American Southwest Conference while the Yellow Jackets fell to a 3-10 record on the season and 1-8 in league play.
 
UMHB pulled away with back-to-back baskets by Aja Holmes and Cheyanne Bonilla in the sixth minute of action, creating a seven-point lead. The Cru finished the quarter up 19-8 with a last second putback shot by Kaitlyn Kollmorgen. In the fifth minute of the second quarter UMHB used a 12-2 run to expand their lead to as big as 22. The Cru held the Yellow Jackets to just nine second quarter points, finishing the half ahead 39-17.
 
The Cru started of the second half with a quick jump shot by Arieona Rosborough. In the third minute, a three-pointer by Ashley Faux started the Cru on a 10-1. The Cru kept pushing and ended the third up 63-31. Howard Payne started the fourth quarter with an early six-point run to reduce UMHB's lead to 29. After back-and-forth play, Jayden Widener hit two baskets with three minutes remaining to lead to Cru on a six-point run, winning 77-53.
 
UMHB's offense was led by Holmes with 15 points, while Faux added 13 and four assists. Defensively, Catherine Kaiser led with ten rebounds and Alexia Martin had two blocks. The Cru created 16 turnovers for the Yellow Jackets, led by Bethany McLeod with three steals.
 
UMHB returns to action on Thursday, January 13th against East Texas Baptist University at 5:30 p.m. in Marshall.