BROWNWOOD, Texas – Holding Howard Payne University to just 27 percent shooting, East Texas Baptist University used their defense for the 56-49 win over the Yellowjackets in American Southwest Conference play. ETBU has now won five games in a row improving to 11-11 and 8-6 in the ASC.
 
Payton Hicks recorded 15 points and five rebounds going 6-for-6 at the foul line to lead the team. Hannah Matthews shot 50 percent from the floor scoring 11 points while Ashlynn Galvin added 10 points. Hannah Ayala grabbed 10 rebounds with five points. Asia Mitchell led HPU with 10 points.
 
ETBU shot 35 percent overall making just one three-pointer for nine percent shooting. They then made 75 percent of their free throws. HPU was held to just 27 percent from the floor, 15 percent from the arc, and 73 percent from the line. ETBU out rebounded HPU, 46-33, and forced 19 turnovers.
 
Holding HPU to just eight points in the first quarter, ETBU didn't score until the 5:16 mark as the first bucket of the game. HPU followed at 4:59 for their first points but by 2:59 ETBU had taken a six-point lead, 8-2, on a Jayla Hall jumper. Hicks kept the six-point lead for ETBU with under a minute to play on a layup making it 12-6 and then made it 14-6 with 10 seconds to go on a fast break layup. HPU hit a layup just before the buzzer to cut the lead to six, 14-8.
 
HPU took the lead in the second quarter, 15-14, at 7:22 but a 6-0 run by ETBU over two and half minutes made it 20-15. Matthews had all six points in the run and gave ETBU the five-point lead at 5:02. ETBU kept their lead, with it down to two, twice, the rest of the way for a three-point halftime advantage, 25-22.
 
ETBU shot 55 percent in the third quarter outscoring HPU, 15-12. HPU made a move early to take the lead, 28-27, opening up the quarter on a 6-2 run at 8:42. Kadia Ward made two free throws at 6:54 to retake the lead by two, 30-28, but HPU tied it at 30 just 20 seconds later. Over the next four minutes, ETBU had a 6-0 run as Matthews and Michaela James both had buckets in that time to make it 36-30. At the 1:49 mark, HPU came within three, 36-33, on a three-point play but in just over a minute ETBU pushed the lead to seven, 40-33, as Hicks had a layup after a Ward steal. One free throw by HPU before the quarter ended cut the lead to six, 40-34, heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Leading the whole fourth quarter, ETBU pulled off the win, 56-49. HPU, though, was within two, twice. They brought the lead down to two, 50-48, with 1:51 to play on a layup. Ward was then fouled at 1:06 making both free throws to move the lead to four, 52-48. After going 1-of-2 at the line with 34 seconds left, HPU was within three but then fouled Hicks with 30 seconds left. Hicks made both shots improving their lead to five, 54-29. HPU missed a layup with 18 seconds to go and Hicks was fouled again as she made both free throws for the seven-point win.
 
ETBU will play at Sul Ross State for their final time on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. as the Lobos transition to NCAA Division II next season.