Abram Choate, SID

BROWNWOOD, Texas – The Howard Payne University Lady Jackets got ahead early and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team could not get back into the game as 2nd-ranked Howard Payne won 80-38 Thursday night in the Brownwood Coliseum.

Howard Payne led by double digits at 18-8 with 11:08 remaining in the first half. The Lady Jackets stretched the lead to 19 points at 39-20 at halftime. Howard Payne never led by less than 16 in the second half and simply pulled away from the UMHB women.

UMHB shot just 26 per cent from the field and 17 per cent from three-point range in the game. HPU shot 46 per cent from the floor and 37 per cent from beyond the arc. Howard Payne also went 19-23 from the free-throw line, forced 25 turnovers and out rebounded UMHB 40-38 in the game.

Meia Daniels had a game-high 18 points to lead Howard Payne and Stacey Blalock added 13 points. Kimberly Hoffman added 11 points and Elaine Hobbs came off the bench to score 10 points and grab a team-high nine rebounds for the Lady Jackets.

Landie Thompson led UMHB with 16 points and she also grabbed six rebounds. Kallie White was the only other UMHB player to score more than three points, finishing with six.

The Lady Jackets stay unbeaten at 22-0 overall and 18-0 in the ASC with the victory. The loss drops the Cru women to 13-9 overall and 11-7 in American Southwest Conference play.

The Lady Jackets will play on Saturday at home against Concordia at 1:00 PM.