Abram Choate, SID

ABILENE, Texas – The Howard Payne Lady Jackets out-rebounded the Lady Indians of McMurry University 55 to 31 to win 57-56 at Kimbrell Arena Thursday night.

The Lady Jackets started the game shooting 1 for 10 from the field, and McMurry jumped out to an early 9-2 lead. At 8:50 on the clock, a rebound and lay-up by So. G Meia Daniels(Fossil Ridge HS) made the score 14-9 McM. Then a jumper by So. F Daphnie Pippins(FW-Lamar HS) made it 18-16 McM with 5:55 before halftime. Two free-throws by Jr. G Heather Hohertz(Priddy HS) tied the score at 20-20 at 3:30 on the clock. Howard Payne took the lead and went into the locker room up 28-26. After 1 of 10 shooting to start the game by the Lady Jackets, they eventually shot 34.5% from the floor in the first half.

At 16:47 in the second, three consecutive lay-ups by McM's Richardson brought the score to 35-30 McM. HPU retook the lead, 49-46 at 9:32 on a 3-pointer by Heather Hohertz, a 10-0 run by the Lady Jackets. Hohertz's lay-up at 3:31 brought the score to 55-51 HPU. McMurry again retook the lead 56-55 on Sawyer's 3-pointer with 1 minute remaining in the game. With 3 .2 seconds left Howard Payne's So C Jennifer Wallenmeyer(Edmond, OK-Santa Fe HS) hits a lay-up to give HPU a 57-56 lead. The Lady Indians were unable to get a shot off at the buzzer and the Lady Jackets win 57-56. Howard Payne out-rebounded McMurry 55 to 31 in the game, 22 offensive rebounds by HPU.

Leading scorers for Howard Payne were Heather Hohertz and Meia Daniels both with 18 points, Daniels also had 14 rebounds. Daphnie Pippins played amazing off the bench with 13 rebounds.

McMurry was lead by Tarra Richardson with a game high 30 points with 6 blocks. Sawyer chipped in 12 points and Tuttle had 10 assists.

The Lady Jackets are on the road on Saturday at Hardin-Simmons, start time 1:00pm