BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team earned an 11-point win over Texas Lutheran University Sunday afternoon in Belton. The win improved the Cru to 3-5 on the season while the Bulldogs fell to 4-2.
 
UMHB jumped to an early 7-3 lead in the first frame but TLU quickly tied the contest at 7-7. The quarter tied again at 11 points but UMHB closed the half with a 15-13 lead. UMHB's offense exploded in the second quarter, scoring 27 points.
 
Rachel Okoye opened the second quarter with five consecutive points, adding two more free throws for a 22-15 lead. Katelen Brooks hit a three-pointer at 5:27 for an 11-point margin as the Cru continued to press, going up by 15 at 3:38 and ending the half with a 42-26 lead.
 
Okoye scored 11 points in the first half, adding four steals, three assists and four rebounds. Amari Welch and Josie Bruder each added eight points while Bruder also tallied a team-high five boards.
 
Texas Lutheran pulled back within 12 at the end of the third quarter but the Cru came out strong in the fourth but the Bulldogs answered, cutting the gap down to seven with 4:58 left to play. Josie Bruder hit back-to-back three-pointers at 1:57 and 1:11 to put the Cru back up by 15, forcing Texas Lutheran to burn a timeout. Both teams exchanged points in the final minute, ending the contest in a 76-65 UMHB win.
 
Rachel Okoye finished with a double-double, scoring 15 points with 11 rebounds. Josie Bruder led the team with 16 points while Amari Welch also finished in double-digits with 13. Okoye also led the Cru with five assists and four steals in the match.
 
UMHB returns to action on Wednesday, December 3^rd in a 5 p.m. contest against Schreiner University at the Mayborn Campus Center in Belton.