MARSHALL, Texas – Holding Howard Payne University to just two points in the second quarter, East Texas Baptist University cruised to a 68-62 win over the Yellowjackets. HPU shot seven percent and made just one shot in the second quarter. ETBU is now 15-3, 2-0 in the American Southwest Conference, and 8-0 in Ornelas Gym.
 
Kadia Ward put together her fourth career double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds, going 5-of-9 from the floor and making four three-pointers. Madison Hurta gave 12 points with eight rebounds and three assists. Payton Hicks finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Hannah Matthews collected 10 points and six rebounds.
 
ETBU shot 34 percent from the floor, went 11-of-32 from three-point range (34 percent), and took only eight free throws making five (62 percent). HPU finished shooting 33 percent, made 23 percent from the arc, and was 11-of-20 from the line (55 percent). ETBU outrebounded HPU 55-31, forcing 13 turnovers with three blocks.
 
HPU stayed strong with ETBU in the first quarter, trailing by five, 16-11. Hurta started the game with a three-pointer, and Matthews made it 5-2 at 8:15. HPU was still down three, 7-4, at 6:28, but just over three minutes later, ETBU had a nine-point lead, 13-4. Macey Jones had four points in the 6-0 run. Sara Cowan had a three-pointer at 2:02 for a seven-point lead, 16-9, but HPU hit a jumper with 37 seconds left, coming within five.
 
The second quarter became the difference in the game as ETBU held HPU to two points and just one made basket. HPU made their only shot 45 seconds into the quarter and came within six points, 19-13. ETBU scored 18 unanswered points over the next eight minutes for a 24-point halftime lead. Hicks put the lead at 11, 24-13, at 7:22, and Ward nailed a three-pointer at 2:30 for a 21-point lead. Tiffany Bickford hit a three-pointer with 58 seconds left for the 24-point lead.
 
ETBU slowed down in the third quarter, scoring just 11 points, and had only taken two free throws through three quarters. HPU cut the lead in the quarter, shooting 50 percent from the floor and three-point range. Hurta gave ETBU their largest lead of the game at 26, 39-13, on a jumper 24 seconds in. By the 3:52 mark, HPU was within 14 on a free throw, 44-30, on a 17-5 run. An HPU free throw at 1:50 pulled the Yellowjackets within 13, 46-33, but Hurt had a jumper with 51 seconds left to end the quarter with a 15-point lead, 48-33.
 
At 7:42 in the fourth quarter, Hurta swooshed a three-pointer for a 17-point lead, 51-34. Jones then made a free throw at 7:06 for the 18-point lead, 52-34. Hicks kept the 18-point lead with a three-pointer at 5:11, and Matthews made it a 20-point lead with 4:39 left. With 2:25 left, Hicks stole the ball and hit a jumper for a 22-point lead, 66-44, and Anna Bermesderfer had the final shot of the game with 28 seconds left, making it 68-49. HPU had a free throw and jumper to end the game, 68-52.
 
ETBU travels to Belton, Texas, on Thursday, January 23, to face Mary Hardin-Baylor at 5:00 p.m.