The Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team defeated East Texas Baptist in overtime 72-70 Thursday evening in Marshall, Texas. The Cru improved to 12-2 overall and 9-0 in the American Southwest Conference while the Tigers fell to a 9-3 record on the season and 5-2 in league play.
 
East Texas Baptist jumped to an early lead with a 13-point run. Arieona Rosborough broke the run with a layup for the Cru, finishing the quarter down 21-8. UMHB came into the second quarter fighting with a quick 3-pointer by Bethany McLeod. The Cru continued on an 11-2 run, closing the gap to four. The final minutes of the half consisted with back-and-forth play, ending up ETBU ahead 32-25.
 
The second half started off with even play throughout the third quarter. UMHB went into the fourth quarter down 47-42. The Tigers led by as many as eight before the Cru went on an eight-point run to tie up the contest 57-57. With 14 seconds left in play, McLeod stole the ball and took it down for a layup to take the lead for UMHB. The Tigers made a jumper with one second remaining to take the game into overtime 59-59.
 
UMHB took the first lead in overtime with a 3-pointer by Olivia Champion. The continued with back-and-forth baskets for the final four minutes. With eight seconds remaining Rosborough hit a jumper from the top of the key to take the lead for the Cru. The 72-70 win was secured with a steal by McLeod on the Tigers' final inbound. 
 
Ashely Faux led the Cru in points with 15 followed by Rosborough with 14 and Aja Holmes added 11. Defensively UMHB had eight steals, led by McLeod with three. Rosborough led with nine rebounds and Holmes added six to the Cru's total of 40.
 
UMHB returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 15 against Belhaven at 1:00 p.m. in Jackson, Mississippi.