Story by Izzy Crow 
BELTON, Texas - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team finished the season strong with a dominating 77-41 win in the last home game of the season Saturday afternoon in Belton. The Cru finished the regular season with a 17-8 overall record and 6-2 mark in American Southwest Conference action while the Yellow Jackets fell to 4-22 overall and 0-8 in league play.
 
Josie Bruder opened the game with a three from downtown, sparking an unmatched point streak in the first quarter. The Cru got off to a hot start, battling for rebounds and hustling on defense to hold HPU to only two points in the quarter. The Yellow Jackets scored on their first possession of the game but remained scoreless for the final 8:52. UMHB shot 52.94 percent in the first quarter, going 9-17 from the field with a 24-2 lead.
 
The Yellow Jackets fought back in the second quarter, scoring 10 points to the Cru's 16. UMHB went into halftime up 40-12. Josie Bruder led the Cru with 12 first half points, going two-for-three from beyond the arc and four-for-six in field goals. Jaycie Brisco added a team-high seven rebounds in the first half, helping limit the Yellow Jackets to minimal points.
 
Howard Payne found its rhythm in the third quarter, outscoring the Cru 16-14 in the frame. UMHB got back on top in the fourth, outscoring the Yellow Jackets 17-16 for the 71-44 win.
 
Rachel Okoye led the Cru with 16 points with Josie Bruder right behind her tallying 13 points of her own. Senior Jaycie Brisco was a playmaker in her last performance at the Mayborn Campus Center, totaling 14 rebounds, 12 of those defensive, and five assists.  

Jaycie Brisco, Remi Adeleke and Makayla Ward were honored on Senior Day, starting the contest for the Cru. UMHB returns to action next week in the American Southwest Conference Women's Basketball Championship Tournament at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall.