MARSHALL, Texas – Keyed by a strong first half, the East Texas Baptist University women's basketball team dominated Sul Ross State University, 79-31, on the first day of the ETBU Classic earning their first win of the year. ETBU held SRSU to just three points in the first quarter and 12 points in the first half.
 
While ETBU never had a double-digit scorer, April Matthews and Alena Johnston led the team with nine points each. Paige Royal was next with eight points while Cynthia Leib had seven points. Kaia Williams, Kim Childress, and Tatyana Lacey each had six rebounds while Williams added a team-high three assists on the night. Chandre Nunez was the Lobos' leading scorer with 10 points while the leading rebounder was Kaylee Martinez had seven.
 
ETBU finished with 46.4% from the field while SRSU made just 16.4% from the floor. ETBU also won the rebounding battle 59-29, the assists game 23-5, and bench scoring 50-15. The Lobos did record more steals (15-11) and free throws (12-7).
 
The first quarter was all ETBU who posted 18 points while holding SRSU to one field goal. After a tie score at 2-2, the Tigers would finish the quarter on a 16-1 run including nine points in a row (9:07-7:05). Williams (9:07, 3:59) and Amanda Wilson (8:46, 7:28, 2:52) would pick up six points in the quarter while Matthews (9:29, 7:05) added four points. Even Haley Fieseler (5:10) would get on the scoreboard.
 
The Lobos started the second quarter with a two-pointer before ETBU went on a 13-1 run (9:07-6:50) for a 31-6 lead. This included threes from Hanna Hudson (8:06) and Kim Childress (7:18). Bianca Bowring would also contribute in the quarter with six points (5:47-4:32) on three straight field goals. A free throw by Lieb (3:09) would give the Tigers a 38-8 lead before SRSU would cut the lead to 40-12 at halftime.
 
The first part of the third quarter saw ETBU give up a 6-2 run (10:00-3:45) to the Lobos to trail 42-18. But Johnston (3:04-2:17), Alex Stone (2:06), Mallory Stephens (1:46), and Royal (0:51) answered with twelve straight points for a 54-20 edge. Both teams would add two points as ETBU's lead went to 56-22 after three.
 
ETBU's momentum carried into the fourth quarter as they would score 14 of the first 16 points in the quarter (10:00-4:46). Beginning with Missie Kilo's three (9:50), ETBU scored seven straight points (10:00-7:37) for a 63-22 lead. Their next run (6:35-4:46) saw baskets by Fieseler (6:35), Stephens (5:59), and Stone (4:46) bring the score to 70-24. The closest SRSU would get to would be at 70-29 (3:58) and 72-31 (2:29). ETBU would get baskets by Sydni Johnson (3:33) and Royal (2:18) before Leib finished with the final four points (1:34-0:38) for the game to seal the win.
 
ETBU will host St. Thomas University of Texas tomorrow at 3:00 PM.