BELTON, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team fell to East Texas Baptist University 71-57 Saturday afternoon in Belton. The Cru dropped to 21-3 on the season and 18-1 in league play while the Tigers improved to 19-4 overall and 15-3 in ASC play. UMHB closed out the regular season claiming first place in the American Southwest Conference.
 
UMHB began to contest ahead, going on a five-point run at the 6:10 mark. The Tigers answered with a nine-point run to take the lead. UMHB used a seven-point run to take the advantage with a three-pointer by Jacqueline Cilliers, ending the first quarter up 19-17. ETBU took an early basket in the second to knot-up the score 19-19. The contest remained scoreless until the 6:41 mark when the Tigers went on an 11-point run. With a final second basket by Lauren Baker, UMHB went into the half down 32-22.
 
The second half continued in back-and-forth play. UMHB fought back bringing the gap down to eight, but the Tigers kept pushing, ending the third quarter up by 16 points. ETBU continued to inch away through the fourth quarter, claiming the 71-57 victory.
 
Bethany McLeod led the Cru with 11 points and four assists while Kaitlyn Kollmorgen added nine. Arieona Rosborough led UMHB in rebounds adding seven to the team's total 32 boards. McLeod also helped the Cru defensively leading with three steals and two blocks.
 
UMHB will return to action in the American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament on Thursday, February 24^th in Marshall.