Buzzer Beater Lifts HPU Past Concordia

Abram Choate, SID

AUSTIN, Texas – The Howard Payne Lady Jackets hit a buzzer beating layup and defeat Concordia University 55-53 at the Concordia Fieldhouse Thursday evening. 

Both teams traded time in the lead to start the game, but with 7:39 left in the first Concordia led 12-18. After Concordia extended their lead to as much as 9, the Lady Jackets made a run with 4 minutes remaining in the half. Concordia only held a 26-28 halftime lead. 

Howard Payne shot 50% from the field and Concordia shot 38% in the first half. 

Concordia started the second half on a 7-2 run and led 28-35 with 14:16 left in the game. HPU battled back and a Kelsey Miller three-pointer with 11:58 to play gave Howard Payne a 36-35 lead. The Lady Jackets extended their lead to 51-45 on a Brittany Zamora layup with 5 minutes left. 

Concordia did not quit and with 1:08 left a Kassandra Bills three-point play tied the game at 53-53. HPU missed their next shot attempt. CTX's Lore Lee Beck three-point attempt with 8 seconds left was blocked by Hope Hohertz. After a HPU timeout, the Lady Jackets had 3.9 seconds left to score. Sarah Jockers threw it the length of the floor and found Hohertz who laid it up at the buzzer to give HPU the 55-53 win. 

HPU shot 45% for the game and held Concordia to just 30% shooting. HPU did commit 24 turnovers to CTX's 16 in the game. 

Concordia was led by Kassandra Bills with a game-high 21 points. Jennifer Herman followed with 16 and 4 steals. 

Hope Hohertz led the Lady Jackets with 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 steals. Elaine Hobbs who was in foul trouble most of the game finished with 11 points. Brittany Zamora and Katy Sarem had 9 and 8 points respectively. 

Howard Payne improves to 19-5 overall and 15-5 in ASC play, while Concordia falls to 10-12, 10-10 in ASC action. 

The Lady Jackets will finish out their regular season at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor on Saturday at 1:00 pm.
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