MARSHALL, Texas - With another strong defensive effort, the #3 East Texas Baptist University women's basketball team improved their historic start to 17-0 on the season with a 72-46 win over the University of the Ozarks. ETBU also maintains first place in the American Southwest Conference East Division at 8-0.

Hanna Hudson led the way for the Tigers with 13 points while Kenidi White pitched in 12 points. Taylor Singleton knocked down eight points and had five rebounds, which was one rebound shy of team leader Bridget Upton's six rebounds. Janna Rhinehart tallied nine points for the Eagles to lead her team.

Collectively, ETBU outshot UO from the field (40.8%-22.8%), which included seven three-pointers to six by the Eagles. Forcing UO to 27 turnovers, ETBU scored 34 points off them while recording 14 steals. UO would managed to shoot better from the free-throw line (58.3%-57.9%) and outbound ETBU, 44-43.

ETBU opened with a 6-1 lead to start the game with Singleton (8:15), Hudson (7:31), and Upton (6:11) getting on the board. A three by White (3:41) made it 9-4 in ETBU's favor. However, in a quarter that saw both teams shoot under 25% from the field, the Eagles would end it with eight unanswered points to go up 12-9.

The Tigers turned up the jets in the second quarter with 20 unanswered points (9:28-5:10) to lead 29-12. Hudson scored eight points in the run while Williams added five points. Other scorers included White (5:34), Grace Stephens (6:38), and Singleton (9:28). UO would manage to end the quarter with a 9-5 run, which brought the halftime score to 34-21.

Dominating the third quarter, ETBU held UO to just eight points and just 17 the whole second half. ETBU posted a 10-2 run (10:00-6:36) for a 44-23 edge to start the quarter. UO could only get within 18 points, 44-26 (5:42), as they were held to just eight percent from the field in the quarter. Another 11 points for the Tigers gave them 21 marking the second straight 20-point quarter in the game finishing out with a 55-29 lead through three quarters.

Both teams would finish with 17 points in the fourth quarter. The Eagles would knock down three three-pointers from downtown, avoiding being held to under double-digits for the third straight quarter. Kyla West would make the most in the quarter off the bench with four points. It was White who ended the game with a three to score her 12th point of the contest as ETBU preserved the win.

ETBU will have a battle this Saturday with #10 University of Texas Dallas in Ornelas Gym at 1:00 PM.