WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Shooting 51 percent, East Texas Baptist University ran away with an 82-53 victory over Willamette University (Ore.) in Washington. ETBU moves to 3-0 on the year.
 
Payton Hicks, Madison Hurta, and Jayla Hall all recorded 18 points to lead the team. Hall added a double-double with 10 rebounds, and Hicks led with seven assists. Hannah Matthews recorded seven points and six rebounds.
 
ETBU shot 51.6 percent from the floor, 35 percent from the arc, and 66 percent at the line. WU finished making just 35 percent of their shots, 26 percent from the three-point line, and 66 percent on free throws. ETBU outbounded WU 41-20 and forced 14 turnovers, scoring 54 points in the paint.
 
Scoring 20+ points in three of the four quarters, ETBU took the lead for good in the first quarter at 6:22, 75. WU opened up the game with a 5-3 lead, but ETBU went on a 22-2 run over four minutes for an 18-point, 25-7 lead. Hicks had seven points in the run, while both Hurta and Hall added five points each. WU cut the lead to 12, 27-15, at the end of the first quarter.
 
ETBU kept their distance in the second quarter, pushing their lead to 19 points twice. Hurta had a fast break layup on a Hicks assist for the 34-15 lead at 8:30. WU came within 12, 42-30, with 2:50 to go, but ETBU scored the final five points for a 17-point lead at the half, 47-30.
 
Shooting 61 percent in the third quarter, ETBU had a lead of 28, 68-40, with 1:31 left. Hicks hit two free throws for the biggest lead of the game. Tiffany Bickford had a free throw to put ETBU up 20 for the first time in the game, 50-30, at the 8:28 mark. WU ended the quarter down 24, 68-44, hitting a jumper with 33 seconds left.
 
WU came as close as 22, 68-46, early in the fourth quarter, but ETBU had a 28-point lead four times before taking a 29-point lead for the win, 82-53, on a Kierstin Rink free throw.

ETBU will face Whitman College at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday in Washington.