Alpine, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team never trailed and opened up a big early lead on the way to a 74-63 victory over Sul Ross State Saturday in Alpine. The Cru improves to 12-6 overall and 5-4 in American Southwest Conference play with the victory. The loss drops the Lobos to 9-10 overall and 6-4 in the ASC on the season.

Haven Neal opened the scoring with a layup for the Cru 44 seconds into the game. The Lobos tied it up before Meghan Turner buried a three-pointer to make it 5-2 UMHB. The Lobos cut it to 5-4, but the Cru answered with an 8-0 run and scored 13 of the next 15 points to take the lead into double figures. The Lobos would not get closer than six points the rest of the way. The Cru led 35-27 at halftime and then opened the third quarter with a 13-0 run to take control of the contest. UMHB led by at least 10 points for the rest of the game in coasting to the victory.

Jonelle Smith hit 5-7 from three-point range and led the Cru with 17 points. Turner added 14 points, five assists and three steals. Alicia Blackwell added 11 points off the bench and Neal pulled down a team-best seven rebounds. UMHB shot 64 percent from the field in the third quarter and hit 43 percent for the game as a team. Eleven different players scored for the Cru in a balanced scoring effort.

Ashley Ousley led Sul Ross State with 12 points. Kenya Miles added 11 points and a game-high 14 boards. The Lobos out rebounded UMHB 46-43 in the game but shot just 32 percent from the floor and went 8-32 from three-point range.

UMHB will now return to action with the start of a five-game home stand. That stretch starts with a 5:30 PM tip-off against Hardin-Simmons University bon Thursday at the Mayborn Campus Center.