MARSHALL, Texas – Outscoring Sul Ross State University, 22-10, in the fourth quarter, East Texas Baptist University came from behind for an 80-71 victory over the Lobos in their first game of the new year. ETBU is now 5-8 and won their last three games.
 
Five players scored in double figures as ETBU shot 41 percent from the floor. Payton Hicks led the way with 18 points adding eight rebounds as Michaela James tied her career high of 16 points grabbing nine rebounds. Kadia Ward gave 13 points as Jayla Hall finished with 12 points and Hannah Matthews 10 points. Cheyanne Bonilla led SRSU with 16 points.
 
ETBU's best period of shooting came in the first quarter at 54 percent as they made 77 percent of their free throws (27-of-35) but only shot 18 percent from the arc. SRSU made just 37 percent of their shots, went 4-of-13 from the three-point line (30 percent), and shot 85 percent from the line. ETBU out rebounded SRSU, 45-33, and forced 24 turnovers for 26 points. ETBU also scored 42 points in the paint.
 
With SRSU leading, 61-58, at the end of the third quarter, ETBU scored 22 points in the fourth quarter with a 9-2 run in the final three minutes. Ward tied the game at 61 on a three-pointer just 23 seconds into the quarter. She then gave ETBU the lead for good on an and-1 at 8:02 with a layup and free throw making it, 64-63. Hicks hit a three-pointer at 7:31 for a four-point advantage, 67-63, but SRSU cut the lead to two, 69-67, with 5:38 left to play. With 3:24 left in the game, it was still a two-point lead, 71-69, but a 5-0 run gave ETBU the momentum, 75-69, with 2:03 to go. Ward hit two free throws and then Hicks banked in a layup for the five-point lead. SRSU came within four, 75-71, with 59 seconds on the clock but came no closer as ETBU went 5-of-6 from the line for the nine-point win.
 
In the first half, ETBU led, 24-16, after the first quarte shooting 54 percent. They had an eight-point lead three times in period going 12-of-14 from the line. SRSU outscored ETBU, 26-19, in the second quarter but a Matthews three-pointer at the buzzer gave the Tigers the lead, 43-42, at the half.
 
SRSU battled in the third quarter from five-points down to take the lead. ETBU was up 53-48 with 5:36 left when the Lobos finished the quarter on a 13-5 run for the three-point lead heading into the fourth.
 
ETBU will host Howard Payne University on Saturday, January 6, at 1:00 p.m. in American Southwest Conference play.