MARSHALL, Texas – University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball opened American Southwest Conference play with a 76-43 loss to East Texas Baptist Saturday afternoon.
The Tigers applied pressure quickly into the first quarter, finding a 12-2 lead with 3:10 remaining in frame one. Josie Bruder added two free throws to chip into the Tigers' lead, moving the score to 12-4. Bruder went back to the line in the next possession, adding two more to cut the deficit down to 15-6. ETBU closed out the first quarter with a late three-pointer, heading into the second frame with an 18-6 lead.
Kayla Johns-McGarity opened second quarter scoring with a free throw, followed by back-to-back jumpers to make it a 21-11 game. The Tigers earned a 29-12 lead, but Bruder answered with a three-pointer. Katelen Brooks added two free throws, but UMHB was unable to close in on ETBU, ending the half with a score of 36-22.
Bruder was the leading scorer for the Cru in first-half action, adding seven points, while three other Crusaders put up five each. Karlee Cronk, Bruder, and Johns-McGarity each added three rebounds.
Johns-McGarity added four points in the third, along with Madyson Solis with two, and Katelen Brooks with a three-pointer. The Tigers continued their press, ending the third frame with a score of 59-31. Solis added a jumper in the fourth, followed later by Marissa Hernandez who added a three to move the score to 65-36 in the Tigers' favor. Brooks and Cronk connected on a three-pointer each, but ETBU continued to pull away for a 76-43 victory.
Katelen Brooks led the Cru offensively with 11 points followed by Kayal Johns-McGarity with 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
UMHB returns to action at home on Saturday, January 24th in a 1:00pm contest against Hardin-Simmons.
