MARSHALL, Texas – A second half defensive stand led to #21 East Texas Baptist University holding off Concordia University Texas, 57-47, to advance in the American Southwest Conference tournament. ETBU held CTX to no three-pointers in the second half and just 21% shooting for their 20
th win of the year. With the 20 wins, ETBU has now posted five straight 20+ win seasons which is the first-ever in the NCAA Division III era.
Taylor Singleton recorded three steals to become ETBU's all-time steals leader surpassing Marzetta Shepard's record of 213 set from 2004-07. She finished the game shooting 75% (6-of-8) from the floor for 14 points and had seven rebounds.
Bridget Upton added 11 points while
Jade Goynes finished with eight rebounds.
Grace Stephens finished with four assists and six rebounds. Havyn Perez had 18 points for CTX.
ASC TOURNAMENT POST GAME PRESSER
ETBU finished shooting just 33% from the floor, 21% from the three-point line, but was 91% from the stripe (11-of-12). They held CTX to just 32% overall shooting, 13% from the arc, and 83% from the line. ETBU won the rebounding battle, 46-30, and forced 18 turnovers.
CTX held nothing back in the first round of the ASC Tournament taking a quick 4-0 lead. ETBU came back for a 15-11 first quarter lead but CTX put together their best quarter in the second. They outscored ETBU, 19-14, for a 30-29 lead headed into halftime. They made 50% of their shots in the second quarter and was 5-of-5 from the free throw line. ETBU had a six-point lead early, 17-11, in the second but with 5:14 to go CTX took the lead, 21-20. ETBU went on a 9-2 lead to go up, 29-23, with 1:16 left but CTX scored the final seven points for the one-point lead head into the half, 30-29.
ETBU ended CTX's momentum in the third quarter only allowing eight points. CTX took a three-point lead, 34-31, with 7:57 left only to see ETBU tie the game at 36 with 5:46 on the clock. ETBU ended the third quarter on a 7-2 run for a five-point lead, 43-38, going into the fourth quarter.
The defense for ETBU only became stronger in the fourth not allowing any three-pointers made and only three shots from the floor (17%) for CTX. CTX came within three, 43-40, just 40 seconds in but that is as close as they would come the rest of the way. Over the next five minutes, ETBU went on a 8-0 run for an 11-point lead. Goynes gave ETBU the 11-point lead on a fast break steal. By the 2:09 mark, ETBU had a 16-point lead, 57-41, on an
Emma Stelzer lay-up. That was the last ETBU shot made as CTX came within 10 in the final minute ending at 57-47.
ETBU will take on #25 Hardin-Simmons University at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night with the winner advancing to the ASC Championship game.
