BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team used an explosive third quarter to earn a 60-47 win over LeTourneau University Saturday afternoon in Belton. The win improved the Cru to 12-6 on the season and 1-1 in American Southwest Conference action while the YellowJackets fell to 7-12 overall and 1-2 in league play.
 
LeTourneau came out firing, taking a 17-8 lead in the first quarter off seven made field goals, including a trio of three-pointers. UMHB fought back in the second frame, outscoring the YellowJackets 13-8 with three field goals and seven foul shots.
 
UMHB scored the opening points of the third quarter, pulling within two. Josie Bruder evened the contest at 25 off a jumper at 8:14 and UMHB took the lead with an Adyson James free throw at 7:41. Okoye extended the lead with a field goal and three-pointer, sparking a 12-point run for the Cru. LeTourneau hit a three-pointer at 3:02 to cut the lead to 10 and pulled within nine before James hit another jumper for another double-digit lead. The Cru held the high ground through the quarter, ending the frame off a three-pointer from Josie Bruder for a 45-32 lead. The Cru outscored LeTourneau 24-7 in the quarter, shooting 58.8 percent.
 
Both teams put up 15 points in the fourth to secure the 50-47 win for the Cru. UMHB maintained a double-digit lead through the quarter to earn their first conference win of the season.
 
Rachel Okoye and Katelen Brooks led the Cru with 13 points each while Adyson James added 12 and Josie Bruder put up 10. UMHB shot 33.8 percent in the contest with 22 field goals and five three-pointers. Jaycie Brisco led the Cru with nine boards in the matchup, followed by Okoye with eight. Josie Bruder was the team leader with four assists while Brisco added three blocks and Brooks put up four steals.
 
UMHB returns to action on Thursday, January 30^th in a 5:30 p.m. contest at Howard Payne University in Brownwood.