DEMOREST, Ga. - Battle-tested and able to hold off a late Piedmont College rally, the East Texas Baptist University women's basketball team came away with a 71-65 win over the Lions. Returning home from Georgia, ETBU is now 2-0 to start the season. 

Emma Stelzer was the leading scorer with 13 points grabbing eight rebounds while Hanna Hudson contributed 12 points. Kaia Williams added 11 points and shared in team assists with Stelzer as they both dished out four.

The Tigers would finish the game outshooting PC from both the field (44.1%-30.9%) and the three-point line (53.3%-10.0%). They barely managed to out-rebound PC, 46-44, and recorded a 49-25 edge in on-court points. PC did finish with 21 free throws, which was 10 more than ETBU and their bench would prove to be a factor scoring 32 of their points. 

ETBU jumped on the Lions early in the game with six of the first eight points (10:00-7:57). The Lions would respond with an 8-2 run (7:29-5:45) to grab their first lead at 10-8. After trading points, a Hudson three (2:54) would not only ignite a run of seven straight points to end the first quarter with ETBU up 18-13, but it would also be the last time they would trail in the game. Dittmar would also pitch in four points in the quarter (1:49-1:26).

When Hudson (9:12) connected on a three to begin the second quarter, the run improved to nine straight points as ETBU led 21-13. Seven unanswered Lions' points in nearly two and a half-minutes cut the lead to one. Steltzer would key a 14-5 run (6:52-0:12) with six straight points (6:39, 5:03, 4:18) for the Tigers. By the end of the half, ETBU would maintain a double-digit lead at 35-25. 

The Tigers kept up their strong play from the first half as they held tight to the double-digit lead at 44-33 with 5:35 to go in the third. That was when the tone of the game changed as the Lions would create a 19-8 surge (5:20-0:25) to knot the contest at 52 apiece. Only a three from Erin Berry would close out the quarter as ETBU held onto the lead.  

Berry's three to end the quarter was the spark ETBU would need as they kept the new momentum to start the fourth. Steltzer (9:31), Hudson (9:12) and Brooke Webster (7:06) would give ETBU a 62-52 lead with seven straight points. However, the Lions would not go away quietly creating pressure to cut the lead to 68-65 with 13 seconds left. Any chances of the Lions' tying the game would end as Mallory Stephens (0:13) and Kaia Williams (0:07) connected on free throws to seal the win.

ETBU will hit the road against McMurry University after Thanksgiving break for their next contest. That game will be on November 30th and start at 6:00 PM.