Belton, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team controlled the early going and never let Sul Ross State get back into the game as the Cru posted a 75-57 victory over the Lobos Saturday in Belton. UMHB improves to 8-9 overall and 4-4 in American Southwest Conference play with the victory. The loss drops Sul Ross to 4-15 overall and 1-8 in the ASC on the year.

UMHB grabbed a quick early lead as Jonelle Smith hit three three-pointers in the first five minutes, but Sul Ross fought back to within 20-14 at the end of the first quarter. The Cru then took control of the game by opening the second quarter with a 12-3 run to take a 32-17 lead midway through the period. UMHB led the game 42-28 at halftime with Smith scoring 20 of those points for the Cru. UMHB held that big lead into the fourth quarter before the Lobos used a flurry of free-throws to close to within 11 points with 4:42 left to play. The Cru then closed out the game with a 10-3 run to put it out of reach.

Smith led UMHB with 20 points and she was 5-8 from three-point range. Tori Tucker added 11 points and Kendra Wynn had 10 more. Ten different players scored for the Cru. UMHB shot 43 percent from the field as a team and went 9-29 from three-point range. The Cru also out rebounded the Lobos 49-31 in the victory.

Kenya Miles led Sul Ross with 15 points and Jonette Jackson added 12 more. Ashley Ousley had eight points, six assists and four steals. The Lobos shot 33 percent from the field as a team and went 4-14 from beyond the arc.

The game closed out a four-game home stand for the UMHB women. The Cru will hit the road for Abilene next week to take on Hardin-Simmons and McMurry. UMHB will take on the Cowgirls in a 5:30 PM start on Thursday before facing the Warhawks in a 1:00 PM tip off next Saturday.