JACKSON, Miss. – A 12-0 run to start the game was the difference for the East Texas Baptist University women's basketball team as they led the entire way in a 75-59 win over Millsaps College. ETBU improves to 4-3 as they head into the Christmas break.
 
Three players reached double-figures in scoring in Kendrick Clark (24 points), Kim Childress (21 points) and Hanna Hudson (10 points). Amanda Wilson grabbed six rebounds. Dia Fortenberry led the Majors with a double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds.
 
ETBU won all shooting categories in field goal percentage (52.0%-42.0%), three-point percentage (38.5%-31.3%), and free throw percentage (72.2%-60.0%). They also took command in points off turnovers (27-16), fast break points (16-14), and bench points (16-11). Both teams would finish with 30 rebounds while ETBU's 12 steals were five more than MC.
 
ETBU took control of the first quarter with a 21-3 run (10:00-2:00), which included the game's first 12 points on baskets by Clark (7:45, 7:15), Childress (8:18,6:34) and Hudson (5:39). Following MC's first basket, the Tigers would then go on a 9-1 run (4:45-2:10) to up their lead to 21-3. Clark and Childress would finish the quarter with 14 points combined as ETBU saw the Majors score six of the next seven points to bring ETBU's lead to 22-9 after one period.
 
After Childress (9:52) and Mollie Daniel (9:26) would give ETBU a 27-12 lead early in the second quarter, the Majors would run up six straight points (7:33-6:02) to come within nine points, 27-18. That was the only time that MC would cut the lead to single digits. From there, a Grace Stephens three (5:46) would give the Tigers a double-digit lead (30-18) that they didn't give up for the remainder of the game. ETBU finished the first half on an 11-7 run to up their lead to, 41-27, as Clark would score the final seven points of the period posting 15 points at the break.
 
As the third quarter began, ETBU pushed their lead to 21 points (48-27) after a 7-0 run (10:00-8:22) as Childress would start the half with five points (9:35-8:59). The Majors did bring the deficit to as close as 53-38 on an 11-5 rally (7:37-3:45). Yet, ETBU regained leads of 15 to 21 points for the rest of the quarter. Mallory Stephens would add six points (3:19-2:37) in the quarter while Hudson put in five points (5:37-2:33). The Tigers took a 59-43 lead heading into the final ten minutes.
 
ETBU made it a 20-point lead (67-47) following an 8-4 run (10:00-7:55) to start the fourth quarter, which included a pair of Clark three's (8:34-7:55). MC had a 10-2 run (7:14-2:56) that took almost five minutes to close within 12, 69-57,  but Childress would end that run with a layup (2:37) propelling ETBU to the 75-59 win.
 
ETBU will return to action after Christmas on December 28^th and 29^th in Longview, Texas, at the LeTourneau Classic. Their first game will be against Blackburn College at 5:00 p.m. on the 28^th and then face Benedictine College (Ill.) at 3:00 p.m. on the 29^th.