Tyler, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team could not overcome a cold-shooting first half as the Cru fell to U.T.-Tyler 78-53 Saturday afternoon in Tyler. The loss snaps UMHB's winning streak at six straight wins and drops the Cru to 15-8 overall and 15-5 in American Southwest Conference play. The defeat also knocks UMHB out of contention for the regular season title and the chance to host the ASC Championship Tournament. U.T.-Tyler clinches the right to host the ASC Tournament and improves to 20-3 overall and 18-2 in conference play on the year with the victory.
The Patriots opened the game with a 10-2 run and stretched the lead into double figures at 15-4 seven minutes into the game. The Cru would not get closer than ten points the rest of the way and trailed 40-21 at halftime. U.T.-Tyler scored the first five points of the second half and led by as many as 29 points before cruising to the win.
Macy Moore led UMHB with 12 points and Jonelle Smith added 10 more. Bridjai Chaney grabbed a team-high five rebounds as the Cru played without starters Taylor Tucker and Kourtney Bevers. UMHB shot just 28 percent from the field in the first half and finished at 33 percent. The Cru was 1-8 from three-point range and turned the ball over 21 times in the loss.
She'Cara Humphrey led all scorers with 23 points for the Patriots and she also pulled down eight rebounds. Three other players were also in double figures for U.T.-Tyler and ten different players scored. The Patriots out rebounded the Cru 40-25 and shot 46 percent from the field in the game.
UMHB will now return home to close out the regular season with a pair of home games next week. The Cru will host Hardin-Simmons University for a 5:30 PM start on Thursday before closing out the weekend with a 1:00 PM tip-off against U.T.-Dallas. The Cru women have already clinched a berth in the ASC Tournament.