BROWNWOOD, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team dropped a close contest at Howard Payne Saturday afternoon in Brownwood.
 
The Yellow Jackets grabbed a 10-4 lead early in the first quarter but UMHB answered with a 13-0 run to end the frame up 17-10.
 
Amillion Fowler ended the first frame and opened the second with three-pointers, giving the Cru a double-digit lead. Howard Payne pulled within six but another Fowler three-pointer extended the gap back to nine. The Yellow Jackets fought back, dwindling the lead down to two before retaking the high ground off a three-pointer at 4:53. UMHB rebutted and the game went back into back-and-forth action. The Cru held the Yellow Jackets scoreless for the final 3:34, adding eight points to end the first half up 35-27.
 
Fowler led the Cru with 17 points in the first half, followed by Rachel Okoye with eight.
 
UMHB maintained at least a four-point margin until the 3:56 mark in the third quarter when Amaris Ambriz hit a three-pointer to pull HPU within one. The Cru answered but Howard Payne continued to push, tying the contest at 49 at the end of the third.
 
Howard Payne took two quick leads in the fourth but UMHB responded each time, keeping the game tied. The Yellow Jackets went back up and held the advantage until a three-pointer at 2:06 put UMHB up by one. UMHB added one more off a foul shot but the Yellow Jackets responded with a three-pointer at 00:07, taking a one-point lead. A last-second shot by the Cru didn't fall, ending the game in a 60-59 HPU win.
 
Fowler led the Cru with 17 points, followed by Josie Bruder with 14 and Okoye with 12. UMHB totaled 31 rebounds, led by Okoye with six. Okoye also added a team-high six steals and five assists in the contest.
 
UMHB returns to action on Saturday, February 7^th in a 1 p.m. contest against East Texas Baptist University at the Mayborn Campus Center in Belton.