MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter to pull away from Piedmont University, East Texas Baptist University opened the 2024-25 year with a 72-54 victory in Tennessee. This is the fourth time in five years that ETBU has opened up 1-0 under head coach Blake Arbogast.
 
Madison Hurta, in her first game for ETBU, led the team with 16 points making four three-pointers. Tristan Smith led with 11 rebounds. Payton Hicks, Smith, and Kadia Ward all had eight points. Hannah Ayala added eight rebounds. ETBU finished shooting 39 percent from the floor, 31 percent from the arc, and 52 percent from the stripe. Piedmont was held to 28 percent shooting, made only 27 percent of their three-pointers, and 73 percent from the line. ETBU out rebounded Piedmont, 54-36, and forced 25 turnovers with three blocks.
 
ETBU had just a two-point lead at the end of the first quarter, 13-11, after a 9-2 run in the final 4:12. Piedmont went up, 9-4, but a layup from Tiffany Bickford started the run. Smith had a tip-in to come within one, 9-8, and Hurta hit a three-pointer for the lead, 11-9. Hannah Matthews then put in a bucket with 13 seconds left for a two-point lead, 13-11.
 
A 21-point second quarter gave ETBU a nine-point lead at the break, 34-25. Hurta put ETBU up by 11, 30-19, on a three-pointer at 2:51, and Smith made a free throw at 2:19 for a 12-point advantage, 31-19. Piedmont was within six, 31-25, but a Smith three-pointer put the lead at nine at the half.
 
Scoring 17 points in the third quarter, ETBU had a 12-point lead, 51-39, at the end. Piedmont, though, came within two, 38-36, at 5:13, before ETBU finished on a 13-3 run for the 12-point lead. ETBU then ran away with the game in the fourth quarter with 21 points for the win. A 6-0 run started the fourth quarter for ETBU making it, 57-39. Payton Hicks had a layup for the big lead. Skyler Smith made it a 21-point lead on a three-pointer, 62-41, with 5:45 to go. She canned another three-pointer at 5:10 for a 22-point lead, 65-43. Macey Jones gave the Tigers a 24-point lead, 70-46, at 1:54 on a layup and Abry Odom hit a jumper with four seconds left for the 18-point win.
 
ETBU will face Illinois Tech on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.