SEGUIN, Texas – University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball dropped a 68-52 decision to Texas Lutheran on Wednesday evening. This loss moves the Cru's record to 4-6 while the Bulldogs improve to 5-4 on the season.
The Cru jumped to an early 6-0 lead after Amari Welch hit a pair of three-pointers. TLU responded, knotting the game at six. The first frame continued to play evenly with two more tied scores at 8-8 and again at 10-10. Quarter one closed out on two Bulldog free throws, finalizing with a score of 12-12.
The Bulldogs pushed ahead in the second quarter, taking their biggest lead so far at 18-14. UMHB took the lead back over with a Mia Lozoya free throw, followed by two driving layups from Rachel Okoye to put the Cru up 19-18 with 6:58 left in the half. The Bulldogs responded, taking a 23-20 lead, but the Cru answered with two layups from Josie Bruder and one from Abby Levings to earn a 27-26 upper hand with 1:55 remaining. Texas Lutheran closed out the half with a four-point run to enter halftime with a 30-27 lead.
Josie Bruder was the leading scorer in the first half with seven points. Amari Welch and Rachel Okoye followed closely behind with six points and four rebounds each.
Abby Levings opened the second half with a layup to come within one of the Bulldogs. TLU pushed ahead 35-29 before Rachel Okoye added a layup of her own to make it a 35-31 game with 5:42 left in the third quarter. The Bulldogs finalized the third frame with the lead at 44-35.
The Cru put up 11 points in the first few minutes of the fourth, but the Bulldogs continued to press, keeping a 57-46 deficit through five minutes of action. UMHB could not rally back, falling to Texas Lutheran 68-52.
Rachel Okoye led the Cru with 16 points, followed by Amari Welch who finished with 11. Okoye and Welch each added seven rebounds.
UMHB returns to action in a three-game homestand beginning on Sunday, December 14th in a 3:00pm contest against George Fox.
