The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women’s basketball team used a hot-shooting first half and big rebounding advantage to build a lead and the Cru held on to post a 70-65 win over Texas Wesleyan Tuesday night in Belton. UMHB improves to 3-0 on the season with the victory. The loss drops the Rams to 2-3 on the year.
The Cru led 38-29 at halftime and was able to stretch that advantage to 49-39 after three quarters. Texas Wesleyan opened the fourth period with a 9-2 run to close to within three points at 51-48. Kendall Rollins hit jumpers on back-to-back possessions to push the lead back to seven points with 5:05 remaining in the contest. The Rams cut it to three on two more occasions, but UMHB had an answer each time to hold off the comeback bid.
Hannah Holt led UMHB with 20 points and she added a team-high seven rebounds. Rollins and Alicia Blackwell scored 14 points apiece and Aubrie Elliott chipped in ten more off the bench. The Cru shot 50 percent from the field in the first half and finished at 41 percent for the game. UMHB also out rebounded the Rams 44-35.
Nicole Gleason scored a game-high 22 points to lead Texas Wesleyan. Jordan Brightwell and Kyla Grant added 13 points apiece. The Rams shot 41 percent from the field. Both teams hit eight three-pointers and combined to shoot just 22 free throws in the game.
The UMHB women will return to action with a non-conference game at Schreiner University on Sunday. The Cru will host Southwestern University next Tuesday night before opening American Southwest Conference play with home games on Thursday and Saturday.
