MARSHALL, Texas – Facing their second straight nationally ranked team, the East Texas Baptist University women's basketball team came up short to #17 University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, 70-65. ETBU is 16-6 overall and 10-3 in the American Southwest Conference East Division.
 
Amanda Wilson poured in 21 points to lead ETBU while sharing the rebound lead with Kim Childress (nine points) at eight apiece. Kendrick Clark also scored in double-figures with 14 points. Other contributors for ETBU included Paige Royal with seven points off the bench.
 
ETBU finished outshooting the Crusaders 45.9%-38.7% from the field while also out rebounding them, 38-33, while dominating the paint, 40-18. UMHB had the edge in the three-point percentage (35.0%-28.6%) and made 15 free throws out of 16 attempts. ETBU only went to the line three times making all three. They also recorded 18 points off turnovers.
 
The first quarter began with an early exchange of buckets as Clark started off with five early points for ETBU. The score was 8-7 in ETBU's favor when the Crusaders would go on an 8-0 run (4:47-2:13) to grab a 15-8 lead. Clark (1:53) would nab her seventh point of the quarter while Childress put the Tigers within three, 15-12. A three-pointer to end the quarter by UMHB made the score 18-12.
 
Childress (9:36) and Clark (8:26) would hit a pair of threes to tie the game at 18. Each side then exchanged buckets as Wilson started to go scoring nine points, including a three-point play to put ETBU up, 31-30 (3:31). Moments later, Royal connected on a four-point play as ETBU posted a five-point lead, 35-30 (2:55). The rest of the quarter saw the Tigers hold UMHB to one point as they would take a 38-31 lead at the break.  
 
ETBU started the second half with Wilson putting in four points (9:24, 8:51). The momentum would lead to 9-6 run to lead 47-37 with Hanna Hudson (6:31) knocking down a big three-pointer. UMHB would take control of the rest of the third quarter outscoring ETBU 15-6 (5:14-0:00) to take a one-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, 53-52.
 
Both teams would exchange points before the Crusaders would push their lead to 63-57 with 4:47 to play. A layup by Childress (4:08) was answered by another UMHB basket (3:46) to maintain the six point edge at 65-59. ETBU would put up a final run with six unanswered points (3:38-1:55) as Wilson tied the game at 65. In the end, UMHB would knock down another shot to take the lead and finished with two free throws making it, 70-65 victory.

ETBU will host Concordia University – Texas on Saturday at 1:00 PM.