ABILENE, Texas - The top two defensive teams in the American Southwest Conference faced each other on Thursday night as the East Texas Baptist University women's basketball team battled Hardin-Simmons University falling in overtime, 53-51. The loss puts ETBU at 6-4 overall and 0-1 in the ASC East.

Kendrick Clark (15 points), Amanda Wilson (14 points), and Kim Childress (10 points) once again finished in double-figures in scoring as Wilson (12 rebounds) and Childress (11 rebounds) finished with a double-doubles. Clark also led with four assists on the day. For the Cowgirls, Taylor Gaffney had a game-high 27 points. 

The Tigers shot 33.9% from the field as a team, which included 20.0% from three-point range. ETBU did finish with 28 points in the paint, 14 points off turnovers, and 15 second chance points. ETBU also out-rebounded HSU 50-43.

The Cowgirls would benefit from a 9-0 lead on three-straight three-pointers (10:00-7:45) to start off the game. ETBU would claw back with a 10-2 run (7:41-4:49) as Childress would put up eight points (7:20, 6:09, 4:49) As ETBU pulled within one, 11-10. After HSU extended their margin to 16-10 on a run of five straight points, Clark (1:57) and Mallory Stephens (1:22) baskets put the Tigers within two again. ETBU would grab their first lead, 17-16, on a three by Clark only for it to be short-lived as the Cowgirls would hit the buzzer-beater to lead 19-17 after one quarter.

The second quarter brought a momentum boost for HSU who extended their lead to 26-19 (6:48). Moss would end the Cowgirl run of 13 straight points with ETBU's first basket almost four minutes into the quarter (6:13). HSU answered with a three to give them a double-digit lead for the first time. By the end of the second quarter, a Stephens free throw (4:52) and a Moss jumper (2:12) would bring the score to 29-22 in HSU's favor. 

Once play for the third quarter began, ETBU started on an 8-0 run as Clark (9:11, 6:40) and Kaia Williams (8:30) plus a free throw by Wilson (7:35) gave ETBU a 30-29 lead. HSU would retake the lead as they would finish with a 9-4 run. It was a jumper by Wilson (3:29) and free throws by Bianca Bowring (1:47, 1:10) that pulled ETBU within four, 38-34, at the end of three quarters. 

The fourth quarter would follow a theme of ETBU getting close only for the Cowgirls to extend their lead. Clark (9:05, 6:48) and Wilson (7:50, 4:59) would combine to give ETBU eight points to cut the deficit to 44-42. ETBU would finally knot the game at 44 from a pair of Childress free throws. The Cowgirls would retake the lead at 46-44 from free throws. But Wilson would hit a 1:58 left to go to tie it at 46. This score would stay the same throughout the final minute although ETBU would have a chance to win the game in regulation on free throws but came up short as the game went into overtime.

In overtime, Wilson put the Tigers up with a two-point jumper. Both teams then exchanged leads with Clark giving ETBU a 51-50 lead with a minute to go. But the Cowgirls would sink three free throws to grab the lead. ETBU had two chances to win, but came up empty both times and the Cowgirls escaped with the win.

ETBU will look to bounce back Saturday at 1:00 PM when they take on McMurry University.