MARSHALL, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team dropped a neutral-site contest to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Tuesday in Marshall.
 
Wisconsin-Eau Claire jumped to an early 15-10 lead in the first quarter and extended the gap to 11 halfway through the second. UMHB cut the gap to five off a jumper from Rachel Okoye at 2:36. Amillion Fowler cut the gap again with a free throw at 1:15 before Natalia Galvan hit a last-second three-pointer and made the ensuing foul shot to pull the Cru within two at the end of the first half.
 
Galvan led the Cru with 10 points while Fowler, Allie Uzzell and Okoye each added four. UMHB shot 22.9 percent in the half with 27 rebounds.
 
UWEC went back ahead by four in the third quarter but UMHB pulled within one. A six-point run gave the Blugolds another big lead as they extended the gap to seven with one quarter to play. UWEC outscored the Cru 13-8 in the fourth quarter, sealing the 53-41 victory.
 
Galvan finished with 13 points while Fowler had nine. Karlee Cronk finished with a team-high 18 rebounds, the fifth most rebounds per game in program history. Okoye led the Cru with three assists while three different Crusaders each added two steals.
 
UMHB returns to action on Saturday, January 3^rd in a 1 p.m. contest at McMurry University in Abilene.