JACKSON, Mississippi – Three players scored in double figures as the East Texas Baptist University women's basketball team took care of business over Belhaven University with a 77-66 victory in Mississippi. April Leonard, Cekret Davis, and Delia Hopkins all scored in double figures as ETBU moved to 11-4 overall.

Leonard led the team with 18 points while Davis tallied 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists and Hopkins finished with 10 points. Other contributions came from Malaisia Chisholm with nine points and Lauren Lee, who added seven points. For Belhaven, Jasmine Brown tallied a game-high 21 points with eight rebounds and Candler Gregory had 17 points.

Between the teams, ETBU won all three shooting categories with a 50.9%-34.4% edge in field goal percentage, 42.1%-19% in three-point field goals, and 71.4%-64.5% from behind the free throw mark. They also won the blocks (4-3), steals (10-8), and assists (12-10) stats as well. Belhaven did win the rebounding battle with a 39-34 edge.

The first quarter was a tight battle with Belhaven taking a 20-16 lead at the end of 10 minutes of play. Three pointers by Leonard and Davis tied the score at six before Hopkins hit a jumper to give ETBU their only lead of the first quarter at 8-7. A 13-8 run by Belhaven occurred as they would increase their lead to seven at 20-13. During the run, ETBU would cut the lead to two twice before the Blazers added baskets. Morgan Garrett would hit a three-pointer to cut Belhaven's lead to four after one quarter.

ETBU would come out firing with a 7-0 run courtesy of baskets by Hopkins, Leonard, and Davis. Belhaven would tie the score at 23 on free throws before a three by Leonard would start a 13-6 run to end the quarter. Some role players for ETBU would get points in the quarter for the Tigers including Catina Hayes and Samantha Busby. When Hopkins hit a jumper with five seconds to play in the quarter, ETBU had equaled the largest lead of the first two quarters by both teams as they took a 36-29 edge into halftime.

ETBU's momentum carried them into the third quarter as they raced out to a 10-1 run to start the quarter. Baskets by Hopkins and Chisholm along with free throws by Leonard and Busby kept ETBU's lead growing to 46-30 with 5:54 to play in the third. Busby would also make her second field goal of the game in the 3:58 mark. Belhaven was able to cut the lead to nine points with a 14-7 run that climaxed with a three pointer by Gregory. But Leonard would be fouled on a three-point shot at three point shot at the buzzer and she would make two free throws giving ETBU a 55-44 cushion after three.

Both teams would end up scoring 22 points in the fourth quarter to make the eleven point ETBU lead stand. ETBU would race out to 15 point leads of 64-49 on a Chisholm layup at the 6:46 mark, 70-55 on a jumper by Ambrosia Woodard at 2:27, and 75-60 on a three by Kaitlyn Packett with 38 seconds to play. Belhaven would end the contest on a layup by Kandice Sims to give ETBU the win.

ETBU returns home this Thursday and Saturday for two critical games vs. Texas-Dallas and Ozarks respectfully. Tip off times are 5:30 pm Thursday night and 1:00 pm Saturday.