BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team earned a double-digit win over East Texas Baptist University Thursday evening in Belton. The loss dropped the Cru to 11-6 on the season while the Tigers improved to 16-3 overall. ETBU also improved to 3-0 in American Southwest Conference play while the Cru opens at 0-1.
The first quarter opened in back-to-back action with neither team leading by more than four points until the Cru went on a 10-point run to take a 12-6 margin. ETBU cut the drought with a jumper at 2:40 before
Rachel Okoye hit a three-pointer to put the Cru back up by seven.
Abby Levings tacked on a jumper at 1:44 and UMHB held the lead through the quarter for a 19-13 first quarter score.
ETBU cut the gap quickly in the second quarter, pulling with one at the 7:17 mark. Okoye answered with back-to-back three-pointers before a jumper from
Karlee Cronk extended the margin to six. ETBU fought back again, pulling within two. UMHB held the high ground until the 1:25 mark wen Tiffany Bickford hit a three-pointer for a 32-31 Tiger lead as ETBU went into halftime ahead 35-33.
The Cru retook the lead early in the third quarter but the game toggled back-and-forth quickly after. The Tigers rallied and held a lead for most of the quarter until
Mia Lozoya hit back-to-back foul shots to knot the game at 52. The Tigers went back ahead but the Cru answered again with a pair of foul shots from
Amillion Fowler. ETBU answered with 1:06 to go in the quarter and finished the frame with a three-pointer for a 58-54 lead.
ETBU outscored the Cru 20-14 in the final quarter to earn the 78-68 win.
Rachel Okoye matched her season-high with 22 points in the contest while
Amillion Fowler added 19.
Adyson James was the Cru's rebounder leader with nine while
Jaycie Brisco added five assists.
UMHB scored 28 points in the paint with 11 points off turnovers and 17 fast break points.
UMHB returns to action on Saturday, January 25
th in a 1 p.m. contest against LeTourneau University at the Mayborn Campus Center in Belton.