ABILENE, Texas – A strong second half by East Texas Baptist University gave them an 81-66 victory over McMurry University in American Southwest Conference play. ETBU is now 12-3 overall and 9-2 in the ASC.
 
Four players scored in double figures as Kaia Williams led the team with 14 points adding three assists and five rebounds. Bridget Upton had 11 points while Taylor Singleton and Mallory Stephens posted 10 points. Singleton and Haley Fieseler each had seven rebounds. Destiny Matthews had 28 points for McMurry.
 
McMurry made it a close first half trailing by 33-29 at halftime. ETBU came out strong in the first quarter holding McMurry to just eight points leading 24-8. McM then came back in the second quarter reversing what ETBU did scoring 21 points and allowing ETBU just nine points. ETBU shot just 16% and didn't make a three-pointer. ETBU was up by 15 points at the 6:29 mark on a Brooke Webster shot. Over the next six minutes, McM went on a 17-6 run to come within four at the half.
 
In the third, ETBU returned to what they knew making 60% of their shots from the floor and 44% from the arc making four three-pointers. McM was within eight points, 39-31, with 7:13 left but ETBU went on a 15-5 run over four minutes for an 18-point lead, 54-38, on a Hanna Hudson three-pointer. McM cut the lead to 13, 56-43, but the end of the third quarter.
 
McM made it closer in the fourth quarter scoring 23 points but ETBU put up 25 for the 81-66 win. Jenna Rasbury kept the lead at 18 points, 70-52, with 5:40 left. Grace Stephens gave ETBU their first 20-point lead, 72-52, on two free throws at the 4:55 mark. Upton then made it a 25-point lead, 77-52, on a three pointer with 3:35 remaining. ETBU kept their 20+ lead until the final 30 seconds McM made two three-pointers as ETBU won, 81-66.
 
ETBU will be back at home on Thursday, January 27, as they host LeTourneau University at 5:30 p.m.