BROWNWOOD, Texas - In their toughest test to date, the East Texas Baptist University women's basketball team escaped the Howard Payne University Yellow Jackets with an 82-79 victory. With the win, ETBU not only stands at 12-1 overall and 6-0 in the American Southwest Conference, but they have also defeated every single member of the ASC West Division.

ETBU had four players in double-figures, including Sydney Saxton, who finished with 17 points including nine-of-10 from the free throw line. Erin Meeks (15 points, three blocks) and Kim Childress (14 points) were both one rebound shy of a double-double while Madison McCoy, who finished with three assists along with Saxton and Childress, had 13 points. HPU was led by Chelsey Harris, who tallied a game high 20 points. Jada Evans (15 points), Anastasia Willis (12 points), and Presley McKethan (11 points) also reached double-digits for the Yellow Jackets with Valerie Matlock led the team with six steals.

ETBU dominated the field shooting 51.0%, which included 38.5% from three-pointers and 80.0% from the free-throw line. ETBU's bench won the battle with a 38-30 edge in points while the Tigers also maintained a 38-30 decision in points in the paint.

ETBU came out of the gates as they jumped out to an 11-2 lead in the first six minutes. Baskets came from a three by Katy Boren (8:46), and two pointers by McCoy (7:25), Meeks (5:36), McHenry (5:21), and Saxton (4:09). ETBU would push their lead to 16-6 with 2:13 to go in the first quarter. Free throws by Saxton (3:22) and a three by McCoy (2:13) would make it that way before HPU would rally to cut the lead to 17-12 after one.

Quarter number two was fueled by Meeks and Saxton as they combined for 14 points in a 14-4 run to start it off (10:00-5:41). ETBU would soon push this lead to nineteen as a three by Boren (4:34), a layup by Amanda Wilson (3:46), and free throws by Baylie Lindsey (3:14) contributed to 38-19 lead. HPU would respond with a charge back into the contest as they would trail by nine points at 40-31 with 1:09 to play. A free throw by Meeks (0:38) and a layup by Childress (0:17) gave ETBU a 43-31 cushion at halftime.

A 7-2 run by ETBU keyed by Childress (9:47), McCoy (9:07), and Wilson (8:11) gave ETBU a 50-33 lead. Over the next six minutes, HPU would fight their way back into single digits as they collected a 13-5 run to trail 55-46 with 2:51 to play. But ETBU would regain their double-digit lead as Meeks scored a basket at 2:17 to play. Then after free throws made by Childress (1:42) made it 59-46, HPU would reach 59-48 by the end of the quarter.

The fourth quarter would see ETBU rush their lead to 65-50 on layups by Meeks (9:38) and by Lindsey (9:08) before free throws by Childress (8:35). However, HPU would keep the game as close as ten points for the next four minutes with a couple of times seeing them within a single digits at 65-57 (6:33) and 67-59 (4:40). The third time HPU got to single digits at 69-61 (3:41), they would creep closer to three points at 69-66 with 2:37 left. Saxon would respond with a couple of big baskets to lead 74-68 with 1:51 left to go. A breakaway layup by Childress pushed it to 76-68 with forty-eight seconds to go. This would lead to a big finish as the next series of possessions would have a big basket by HPU answered by free throws from McCoy.  With eleven seconds left, HPU would hit a huge three to trail 81-79. But Lindsey could make one-of-two from the line with four seconds left and a 82-79 lead. HPU's game-tying shot was not to be as ETBU hung on for the win.

After winning their last five games on the road, ETBU will return home for their first 2018 contest when they take on ASC East Opponent Texas Dallas this Thursday at 5:30 PM.