AUSTIN, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team opened conference play with a 78-57 win over Concordia University (Texas) Saturday afternoon in Austin. The Cru improved to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in American Southwest Conference play while the Tornados fell to 2-4 on the season and 0-1 in league action.
 
UMHB opened the contest with a 9-2 run to hold a seven-point advantage, led by Lauren Baker with seven points. The Tornados used a pair of three-pointers by Jordan Bravo with seven minutes left in second-quarter action to bring the game within two. The final three minutes of the quarter saw five lead changes before the Tornados used a last second layup to end the half ahead 35-34.
 
The Cru came into the second half strong with eight quick points in the paint to reclaim a five-point advantage. A layup by Addy Self at the 4:34 mark sparked an eight-point run by UMHB to bring their lead to 12. The Cru continued pushing and closed out the third quarter ahead 59-43.
 
UMHB remained scoreless in the fourth until Payton Hicks used a fast break with 7:52 left on the clock to spark a 7-1 run. The Cru capitalized on baskets from Hicks and Kenna Gibson in the final minutes to bring the advantage to 21 and secure the victory.
 
UMHB was led by Hicks with 16 points, while Arieona Rosborough added 15 to the Cru's 78 total points. Self played a big impact under the basket leading the Cru with seven rebounds and two blocked shots. UMHB out-scored Tornados 23-2 on second chance points and caused Concordia to make 22 turnovers, including 12 steals.
 
UMHB returns to action Thursday, December 8^th in a 5:30 p.m. contest against LeTourneau University in Longview.