BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team fell to Howard Payne 99-76 Thursday night in Belton. The win improves the Yellow Jackets to 21-3 overall and 16-2 in American Southwest Conference action, while the Cru falls to 7-16 on the season and 6-12 in conference play.
 
Howard Payne opened the game with a 9-0 run to gain an early lead on the Cru. UMHB responded with a 9-1 run to take a 16-15 lead on Howard Payne, before the Yellow Jackets scored 16 unanswered points. The Cru cut the lead to six at the end of the first half, but was forced to play catch up for the remainder of the game.
 
Taylor Tucker led four UMHB athletes in double digits with 21 points. Jovana Miles added 20, Katelyn Smith put up 13 and Samara Williams scored 10. Miles led the Cru with 14 boards, earning her the Schlotzsky's Lotz Better Player of the Game, while Tucker blocked three shots. UMHB shot 33.3 percent in the game and 30.8 percent from beyond the arc. The Cru out-rebounded Howard Payne 57-45 in the match.
 
Tresta Donahoo led Howard Payne with 27 points, while Dana Marrs added 18 and Danyel Bradley put up 12. Britani Gattis brought down a team-high seven rebounds, Marrs recorded seven steals and Donahoo put in nine assists. Howard Payne shot 46.3 percent on the game and 55.6 percent from beyond the arc. The Yellow Jackets forced 26 turnovers and recorded 18 steals.
 
The Cru will return to action Saturday, Feb. 16 in a 1 p.m. match against Sul Ross State in Belton.