Belton, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women’s basketball team controlled the game early and then held off a LeTourneau rally as the Lady Cru posted a 62-55 victory over the Lady Jackets Thursday night in Belton. The UMHB women improve to 5-4 overall and 3-2 in American Southwest Conference play with their third straight victory. The loss drops LeTourneau to 2-8 overall and 0-6 in the ASC on the year.

UMHB led by as many as 15 points in the first half before settling for a 33-24 halftime lead. The Lady Cru then pushed the lead back to 14 points at 41-27 with 15:29 remaining in the game. LeTourneau then went on a 15-2 run to cut the lead to 43-42 with 6:43 to go. The Lady Jackets pulled it back to 49-47 with 3:00 to go, but the UMHB women closed the game with a 13-8 run to put the game out of reach. The Lady Cru shot 33 per cent from the field and 23 per cent from three-point range but out rebounded the Lady Jackets 52-38. LeTourneau shot 34 per cent from the field and 24 per cent from beyond the arc in the game.

Landie Thompson led the Lady Cru with 10 points and eight rebounds. Thirteen different players scored in the game for the UMHB women. Denee McKay topped four Lady Jackets in double figures with 14 points. Kristen Baskin added 13 points and Kayla Kerns and Ashley Shepard added 10 points apiece. Brittany Adams came off the bench to grab a game-high 10 rebounds for the Lady Jackets.

The UMHB women will host East Texas Baptist for a 1:00 PM start on Saturday. The Lady Cru will then welcome Concordia Texas to the Mayborn Campus Center to open ASC West Division play with a 5:30 PM tip-off on Tuesday night. LeTourneau will travel to Austin to face Concordia Texas for a 1:00 PM start on Saturday.