BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team beat Concordia University Texas 67-62 in overtime Saturday afternoon in Belton. The win improved the Cru to 6-8 on the season and 2-3 in American Southwest Conference play while the Tornados fell to 7-7 overall and 0-5 in conference action.
 
UMHB jumped to an early lead, using a 13-6 run to end the first quarter up 18-11. The Cru led by as many as 13 points in the first half with a 34-25 halftime advantage. Both teams put up 14 points in the third quarter before the Tornados tied the game at 51-51 with 4:25 left in regulations. UMHB jumped ahead again, propelled by a three-pointer from Jonelle Smith before Concordia tied the game once again with just over a minute left to play. Neither team was able to score, sending the contest into overtime with a 56-56 draw. The Tornados led just once in overtime before Jonelle Smith hit another three-pointer to put the Cru up by two. Meghan Turner and Bridjai Chaney sealed the game at the free throw line for UMHB, making a combined four shots in the final 11 seconds of play to seal the 67-62 victory.
 
Jonelle Smith led the Cru with 20 points followed by Chaney with 14. Kendra Wynn led UMHB with 10 rebounds, en route to a team-total 44. Turner was assist leader with five while Smith and Wynn each added 4 steals. UMHB totaled 13 assists, 15 steals and two blocks while forcing the Tornados into 27 turnovers.

Jaela Dejean led Concordia Texas with 19 steals while Isis Johnson brought down a team-high 10 rebounds. The Tornados shot 35 percent in the game and 59.4 percent from the free throw line while UMHB shot 31.9 percent in the contest and 65.4 percent from the line.
 
The UMHB women continue play on Monday, January 18^th in a 5:30 p.m. match against University of the Ozarks at the Mayborn Campus Center in Belton.