BELTON, Texas – Playing in their second game in Central Texas, East Texas Baptist University came up shy of victory against the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, 66-52. ETBU is now 2-8 and 1-3 in the American Southwest Conference.
 
Payton Hicks recorded 13 points with three assists to lead the team. Kadia Ward added 10 points and six rebounds while Michaela James led the team with nine rebounds. UMHB's Arieona Rosborough led all scorers with 20 points.
 
ETBU shot 35 percent from the floor, 25 percent from the arc, and 50 percent from the line. UMHB made 36 percent of their shots, 33 percent from the three-point line, and 77 percent from the stripe. UMHB out rebounded ETBU, 47-36, and forced 18 turnovers for 26 points.
 
The first quarter was a 13-13 tie as ETBU jumped out to a 5-0 lead on a three-pointer by Hicks and a jumper from Jayla Hall. Ward canned a shot for a 7-2 lead before UMHB went on a 9-0 run for a four-point lead, 11-7, with 4:42 left to go. Tristan Smith tied it at 11 on two free throws with 2:25 left and then Michaels tied it at 13 with 38 seconds left.
 
UMHB outscored ETBU, 18-12, in the second quarter for a six-point lead, 31-25. UMHB took a four-point lead to start the quarter, 17-13, but James hit a three-pointer to pull within one, 17-16. With 3:36 to go, UMHB had a five-point lead, 25-20, ETBU cut the lead to four, 29-25, with 50 seconds left on a Hicks jumper. UMHB connected on a shot with 18 seconds left for a six-point halftime lead, 31-25.
 
ETBU scored just six points in the third quarter as UMHB went up, 45-31. ETBU scored 21 points in fourth quarter but UMHB matched them as the Tigers fell, 66-52.
 
ETBU will host LeTourneau University on Thursday, December 14, at 5:30 p.m.