ABILENE, Texas – Not being able to keep up with #24 Hardin-Simmons University's hot shooting, East Texas Baptist fell behind from the opening tip and wasn't able to catch the Cowgirls in American Southwest Conference women's basketball, 81-65. ETBU is now 5-2 overall and 1-1 in the ASC.
 
Jade Goynes led ETBU with 20 points as Kaia Williams had 10 points. Mollie Dittmar added 10 rebounds and six points as Alexis Purcell had four assists. HSU had five players score in double figures as Kiki Gonzales had 16 points.
 
ETBU shot only 35 percent from the floor and 20 percent (4-of-20) for the arc but made 81 percent from the line. HSU finished at 53 percent shooting overall making 40 percent from the three-point line and 75 percent in free throws. HSU also out rebounded ETBU, 38-31, but the Tigers did force 16 turnovers.
 
The Cowgirls jumped out on ETBU, 7-0, in the first two minutes of the game. A Kenidi White three-pointer put ETBU within two, 7-5, at the 6:20 mark but ETBU didn't hit another shot from the floor until there was 31 seconds left in the period. It was close to six minutes before ETBU scored as HSU went on a 11-2 run for an 11-point lead, 18-7. ETBU cut the lead to eight, 20-12, on a Williams three-pointer just before the period ended. ETBU shot just 25 percent in the first quarter which was the worst for them out of all four quarters.
 
By the eight minute mark of the second quarter, HSU had a 15-point lead, 29-14. The Cowgirls slowly pushed their lead to 20, 37-17, with 2:08 left in the half and a 23-point lead, 42-19, with 41 seconds left. Jay Levy had a steal and fast break layup with three seconds left to cut the lead to 18, 42-24, at the half.
 
ETBU had their best quarter in the third shooting 58 percent cutting the lead to 12, 61-49, with 51 seconds left on a Bridget Upton fast break. HSU finished with a 14-point lead, 63-49, ending the third quarter.
 
Brooke Webster hit a three-pointer to start the fourth quarter pulling to within 11 points, 63-52. HSU responded with an 8-0 run putting their lead back to 19, 71-52. ETBU came no closer than 15 points the rest of the way as HSU took the game, 81-65.
 
ETBU will be back at home on Thursday hosting Concordia Texas at 5:30 p.m.