PINEVILLE, Louisiana – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women’s basketball team dominated the opening quarter and controlled the game over the final three periods as the Cru rolled to a 96-67 victory over Louisiana College Saturday in Pineville. UMHB extends the best start in program history to 14-0 overall and 6-0 in American Southwest Conference play with the win. The loss drops the Wildcats to 6-6 overall and 3-3 in the ASC on the season.
UMHB opened the game with a 22-6 run and led 27-9 after Alicia Blackwell banked home a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the opening stanza. LC opened the second period with a 16-6 run to trim the lead to eight points just over halfway through the quarter, but UMHB answered and led 44-34 at the break. The Cru scored the first nine points of the third quarter to once again seize control and the Wildcats would not get closer than 16 points the rest of the way.
Kendall Rollins and Hannah Holt led UMHB with 18 points apiece and both players added seven rebounds. Aubrie Elliott came off the bench to hit 6-7 from the field for 17 points. Allaira Jones had 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds and A’lexiss Benton also chipped in 10 points. Ten different players scored for the Cru as UMHB shot 44 percent from the field as a team. The Cru also out rebounded LC 43-31 and forced 25 turnovers in the victory.
Kourtney McGhee led the Wildcats with 20 points with 10 of those coming from the free-throw line. Janae Smith scored 17 for LC and Jayla Landrum added 15 points, LC shot just 38 percent from the field as a team. The two teams combined for 47 fouls and 65 free-throws on the day in a foul fest that pushed back the start of the men’s game almost 30 minutes.
UMHB returns to action with a 6 pm home game against 2nd-ranked Thomas More University Monday in a battle of unbeaten. The Cru will then open ASC West Division play with home games against Hardin-Simmons and McMurry on Thursday and Saturday.
