MARSHALL, Texas – Playing suffocating defense, East Texas Baptist University upset no. 14 Hardin-Simmons University, 73-66, opening up American Southwest Conference play and stayed undefeated in Ornelas Gym this year at 6-0. ETBU held HSU to just 11 percent shooting in the first quarter and nine points ending the Cowgirls nine-game win streak and giving them their second loss of the year. ETBU is now 14-3 on the year and 1-0 in the ASC.
 
Payton Hicks produced her second 20+ point game of her career with 22 points shooting .500 from the floor (6-of-12) and going 9-of-12 from the line. Jayla Hall had her fifth game this year with 10 or more points, hitting 66 percent of her shots (6-of-9) for 17 points and making 5-of-7 free throws. Madison Hurat followed with 10 points, and Tristan Smith scored eight and had six rebounds and three assists. Kadia Ward added six points, nine rebounds, five assists, five steals, and two blocks.
 
ETBU hit 41 percent of their shots from the floor and three-point range and was 28-of-35 from the line (80 percent). HSU shot 32 percent, had only three three-pointers (18 percent), and was 13-of-24 from the foul line (54 percent). Both teams had 45 rebounds, as ETBU had six blocks, with Macey Jones recording two.
 
The first quarter became the difference in the game as ETBU held HSU to just 11 percent shooting (2-of-17) and no three-pointers, scoring only nine points. ETBU shot 45 percent in the quarter with two three-pointers made. In the first three minutes, ETBU took a 6-0 lead on three-pointers from Tiffany Bickford and Hurta. HSU was within three, 6-3, at 6:31, but two Hall free throws at 5:30 put the lead back to six, 11-5. At the 2:32 mark, HSU was within three, 11-8, but four straight points from Hall gave ETBU a seven-point lead, 15-8. Hicks made one free throw before HSU made only their second shot from the floor with 57 seconds left as ETBU had a seven-point lead, 16-9.
 
ETBU had a 5-2 run to start the second quarter for a 10-point lead, 21-11, as Hicks canned two free throws. Over four minutes, HSU roared back, cutting the lead to one, 23-22, on an 11-2 run. It was still a one-point lead, 25-24, with 2:54 to go but a Hannah Matthews layup and Hicks free throw gave ETBU a four-point lead, 28-24, with 31 seconds left. HSU had a half-court three-pointer made as time expired to cut the lead to one, 28-27, at the half.
 
HSU took their first lead of the game, 29-28, to start the third quarter. ETBU went on a 7-0 run in two minutes to retake the lead at six, 35-39, on a Hicks layup. Matthews started the run, which was followed by a Bickford three-pointer. At the 5:08 mark, Hicks had a layup for an eight-point lead, 41-33. In four minutes, HSU chipped away at ETBU to bring the lead down to one 45-44 and tied the game at 46 with 35 seconds left. Tristan Smith hit both free throws with 16 seconds to go as ETBU had a two-point lead, 48-46, to end the third quarter.
 
It was a tight two minutes to begin the fourth quarter as ETBU held a two-point lead, 50-48, at 8:31. Hicks nailed a three-pointer at 6:49 for a seven-point lead, 55-48, but HSU was within five, 57-52, with 5:30 left to go. ETBU responded on a 7-0 run over 1:21 for a 12-point, 64-52 lead. Smith and Hicks both made two free throws, and then Hurta converted a fast break off a Ward steal with a three-pointer at 4:11 for the 12-point lead. HSU didn't go away, trimming the lead back to six, 65-59, with 1:56 to go, but ETBU went 8-of-10 at the line in the final two minutes for the seven-point win.
 
ETBU will take on Howard Payne University on Saturday, January 18, at 1:00 p.m. in Ornelas Gym.