RICHARDSON, Texas – Continuing to dance in the post season, the East Texas Baptist University overcame a six-point deficit at halftime to upset #19 Whitman College, 65-59. This win marks the program's first ever win in NCAA Tournament play in their first appearance.
 
"These girls are amazing. I can't sit here and take credit for this as the Lord is good," says head coach Rusty Rainbolt. "These girls have grown so much and the Lord has transformed our hearts and we will keep playing for Him."
 
Leading ETBU was Kim Childress, who finished with 17 points and six rebounds while Erin Meeks collected 15 points. Both Childress and Meeks would also make seven free throws each while Madison McCoy (nine points) finished with eight assists and three steals in the game. Many Burdett was WU's top scorer with 24 points.
 
ETBU outshot WC 40.4%-36.7% from the field and 88.5%-60.0% from the free-throw line as they would make 23 free throws total. Although WC would outbound the Tigers 38-36, ETBU's bench was able to outscore WC's bench 27-16. ETBU did not make any free throws going 0-for-12.
 
Wilson started things off with a basket (9:28) for a 2-0 lead in the first quarter. ETBU then pushed their lead to five at 8-3 (7:43) before Childress converted a three-point play (7:16) for an 11-5 lead. WC would answer with eight straight points (6:57-5:39) for a 13-11 lead only for Brittney Jones to tie the game (4:41) on a jumper. ETBU then ran off four straight points from Mallory Stephens (4:07) and Erin Meeks (2:17) but again WC would charge back with six straight points to lead 19-17 after one quarter. 
 
After a WU basket made it 21-17 forty-two seconds into the second quarter, Childress converted a three-point play (8:36) to cut it to 21-20. The next few minutes would see ETBU answer baskets by WC before McCoy tied the game at 25-25 (5:29) on a free throw by McCoy. But from that point on until the end of the quarter, WC would run up eight straight points (3:02-0:30) to lead 33-25. McCoy ended WC's run with a jumper at the buzzer as ETBU trailed 33-27 at the half. 
 
The third quarter was even from the start as WC would extend the lead to nine points at 41-32 (6:26). ETBU responded with five straight points as Meeks (6:00) and Stephens (5:25) would cut it to 41-37. A pair of free throws by Meeks (4:09, 3:38) made it 43-42 before Sydney Saxton would give ETBU the lead with five straight points for a 46-43 lead (2:12). Yet, WC would tie it up by the end of the third quarter at 46. 
 
WC started the fourth quarter with a three-pointer (9:28) only for Meeks to respond with a layup (8:36). Then, Childress (7:53) and McCoy (7:12) then scored to give ETBU a 53-49 lead. WC answered back with a 5-2 run to trail 55-54 (6:12) before the media timeout. After a three-point play by Wilson extended ETBU's lead to 58-54 (4:08), WC scratched four straight points to tie the game at 58 with 1:53 to go. Each team then made one free throw to keep the score tied 59-59 (1:09) to go. WC's chance to take the lead was no good on a jumper and ETBU got the ball with thirty-four seconds left. Meeks then gave ETBU a 61-59 lead on free throws. WC then tried to tie the game, but they missed the jumper and McCoy took down the rebound. She would then make two free throws for a 63-59 lead before Childress fully secured the 65-59 win with two more free throws.  
 
ETBU will now play tomorrow night at 7:00 PM against Texas Dallas.