MARSHALL, Texas – Returning home after a road trip to West Texas last week, the East Texas Baptist University women's basketball team couldn't stop a hot shooting University of Mary Hardin-Baylor team as they dropped their first game at home, 80-62. ETBU is now 10-4 and is 4-2 in the American Southwest Conference East Division.

Two players reached double figures for ETBU in April Leonard with 13 points and Ambrosia Woodard tallying 12 points making four-of-six from three-point range. Malaisia Chisholm also contributed with nine points and five assists while Cekret Davis led the team with seven rebounds. For Mary Hardin-Baylor, Tori Tucker led the Crusaders with 16 points.

Overall, UMHB won the battle in every shooting category with a 48.3%-43.3% edge in field goals, 56.5%-30% in three-point field goals and 56.3%-25% in free throws. They also had the edge in steals (6-5) and assists (19-17). Only rebounds played out to ETBU's favor as they won the rebounding battle 37-35.

The Crusaders took charge of the game right from the beginning. After Leonard scored ETBU's first basket to tie the game at eight, the Crusaders went on an 8-2 run. ETBU would respond with a run of their own with baskets by Chisholm and Taylee Alexander, who finished with four points, and Lauren Lee. But UMHB took control of the rest of the first quarter as they finished with a 9-0 run giving them a 17-10 lead.

ETBU came out firing in the second quarter with a 15-6 run to take the lead 25-23 with 2:36 to play in the quarter. Contributions during the run came from two three-pointers by Woodard and Leonard plus a basket by Chisholm. However, a three-pointer by Meghan Turner would give UMHB the lead and that would be the last time ETBU would have the lead in the game. UMHB finished with a 10-2 run for a 33-27 lead at the break.

UMHB would continue their momentum into the third quarter where they outscored ETBU 22-17 to take a 55-44 lead after three quarters. A three pointer by Morgan Garrett got ETBU within three, 33-30, but that was as close as ETBU would come as UMHB took over from there and never looked back. They hit seven three-pointers in the quarter plus a free throw. A three-pointer by Jonelle Smith at the buzzer gave the Crusaders the eleven-point lead after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, UMHB continued their scoring spree to take the win, 80-62. Woodard's three-pointer with 7:37 left to play in the game made it 59-50 before UMHB would extend their lead to double digits for good. Also hitting three-pointers were Leonard who had two and Lee with one.

ETBU travels to Jackson, Mississippi, to take on Belhaven on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.