Abram Choate, SID

CLINTON, MS - The third-ranked Howard Payne Lady Jackets fought off Mississippi College Saturday in A. E. Wood Coliseum to claim a 66-58 win and preserve their undefeated record and national ranking.

The Lady Jackets improve to 13-0 overall and 9-0 in ASC play, while Mississippi College fell to 6-7 on the season and 3-5 in ASC action.

Mississippi College out-rebounded HPU 36-30 but turned the ball over 24 times, compared to just 17 turnovers for the Lady Jackets.

Both teams battled back and forth in the first half before MC took a 30-29 lead with 3:16 remaining before halftime. HPU ended the half on a 6-0 run to take a 35-30 lead into the locker room.

In the second half, the Lady Choctaws tied the score at 37-37 with just over 17 minutes remaining but could not take the lead. The Lady Choctaws pulled within four on a layup with 6:14 remaining but would not get any closer the rest of the way.

Howard Payne All-American guard Meia Daniels finished with 31 points on 12-21 shooting. The rest of the HPU team was 10-27 from the field with Kimberly Hoffman scoring 10 the only other double figure scorer.

MC was led by forward Rosemary Green who posted 30 points and six rebounds. Green hit 12-17 shots and was 6-6 from the foul line. No other Lady Choctaws reached double figure points.

THE Lady Jackets will play next at home on Thursday versus Texas Lutheran University at 5:30 PM.