MEMPHIS, Tenn. – It was a defensive third quarter that led to East Texas Baptist University coming from behind to win the NCAA Division III First Round Tournament game over Rhodes College, 65-53. ETBU is now 21-5 and 4-1 in the NCAA Tournament as a program.
Taylor Singleton led the team with 14 points and seven rebounds adding two blocks and two steals.
Brooke Webster and
Jade Goynes both had nine points while Goynes added seven rebounds. Catherine Althoff had 15 points for Rhodes.
ETBU shot 38% overall, 28% from the arc, and 41% from the line while Rhodes made 25% from the floor, 22% from the three-point line, and 68% at the foul line. ETBU won the rebounding game, 56-43, forcing 11 turnovers.
POST GAME PRESSER
Down three at the half, 27-24, ETBU held Rhodes to just eight points in the third quarter and 16% shooting moving ahead by six, 41-35. Hudson scored the first four points in the quarter to take the lead, 28-27. Those points started at 11-5 run over six minutes as ETBU took a nine-point lead, 38-29, when Goynes hit a jumper. Goynes then gave ETBU an 11-point lead, 41-30, with 1:43 to go shifting the momentum to the Tigers. Rhodes had the lead down to six at the end of the quarter.
The first five minutes of the fourth quarter was all ETBU as they went on a 12-0 run for an 18-point lead, 53-35. Webster made a jumper with 3:43 left in the game to give ETBU a 21-point lead, 58-37.
Emma Stelzer also gave ETBU a 21-piont lead, 61-40, with 2:48 to go. Rhodes finished the game 13-4 run but couldn't catch the Tigers as they took the game, 65-53.
It was a close first half as ETBU trailed, 12-10, after the first quarter. They then scored 14 points in the second but were down three at the half, 27-24.
ETBU advances onto the second round of the NCAA Tournament to face #21 Mary Hardin-Baylor on Saturday at 5:00 pm.
