MARSHALL, Texas – It was a fourth quarter defensive stand that guided East Texas Baptist University to a 70-53 American Southwest Conference win over Howard Payne University. ETBU held HPU to just four points and one made shot from the floor in the fourth quarter scoring 18 points. ETBU is now 6-8 overall and 3-3 in the ASC.
 
Tristan Smith collected a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds and Ashlynn Galvin made two three-pointers leading the team in scoring with 14 points (three assists, six rebounds). Both Payton Hicks and Jayla Hall gave 10 points and Hannah Ayala collected three blocks. Aja Holmes led HPU with 14 points.
 
ETBU shot just 38 percent overall but went 7-of-13 in the fourth quarter (53 percent). They canned three three-pointers for 33 percent and went 29-of-41 at the free throw line (70 percent). HPU finished shooting 26 percent, made just four three pointers for 15 percent and was 17-of-24 from the stripe (70 percent). ETBU won the rebounding battle, 45-36, forcing 20 turnovers for 16 points.
 
In the closely battled game through three quarters, ETBU tightened up their defense in the fourth quarter. HPU made just one shot from the floor (1-of-9) for 11 percent scoring just four points. The other two points came from free throws. It was ETBU's best offensive quarter shooting 53 percent going 7-of-13 from the floor.
 
ETBU had just a three-point lead, 52-49, heading into the fourth quarter. With 8:22 left in the game, HPU was within four, 56-52, with a jumper. Over the next eight minutes, ETBU held HPU to no points while scoring 14 points for a 16-point lead, 68-52. Galvin started the scoring with a jumper at 6:39 but no scoring took place for over three minutes. ETBU score 12 points in the final three minutes of the game as Galvin canned a three-pointer at 3:10 for a nine-point lead. Hannah Matthews followed with a layup at 2:32 and then Hicks had a fast break layup off of a steal for a 13-point lead, 65-52. Hicks then made it a 15-point lead at 1:18 on another layup and then made a free throw with 47 seconds left for a 16-point lead, 68-52. Sara Cowan finished off the scoring for ETBU with 17 seconds left on a fast break layup for the 17-point win, 70-53.
 
HPU had a two-point lead, 20-18 after the first quarter but ETBU outscored the YellowJackets, 15-10 in the second quarter for the three-point lead, 33-30. HPU took a 30-29 lead with 3:05 left in the half but didn't score the rest of the way. Galvin made two free throws at 2:49 to take the lead, 31-30, and then Hall had a layup at 1:40 for the three-point lead, 33-30.
 
Both teams scored 19 points in the third quarter as ETBU built an eight-point lead, 50-42 on a Hall free throw. HPU finished the third quarter on a 7-2 run to come within three, 52-49, heading into the fourth quarter where ETBU dominated defensively.
 
ETBU will travel to Richardson, Texas, on Thursday, January 11, to face Texas Dallas at 5:30 p.m.