BROWNWOOD, Texas – The Howard Payne University women's basketball team defeated LeTourneau University 107-79 on Thursday evening at the Brownwood Coliseum. 

Micah Cisneroz led all players with 32, a new career high, and added seven steals, six assists and six rebounds while shooting 50% from the field. Sarahi Castillo also recorded a new career high, finishing with 25 points and 12 rebounds on 11-23 shooting. Sabrina Ochoa added 14 points and Valarie Matlock finished with a double-double, 12 points, 12 assists and she also collected nine steals. 

LeTourneau scored their first bucket ten seconds into the game, a three pointer from Taylor Abbe, to help set the tempo early. Howard Payne would answer right back with a three pointer from Micah Cisneroz and the two teams exchanged points early on. 

The Yellow Jackets would eventually fall behind by seven points with 2:37 left in the first quarter before Micah Cisneroz scored on a layup and made the free throw attempt after to help her squad re-take the 23-22 lead to close out the quarter.  

Howard Payne pushed their lead to five in the second period and played a full court defense that frustrated the LeTourneau offense and held them to just 10 points in the quarter. The Yellow Jackets then began to separate themselves behind the strong play of their backcourt and finished out the half up 52-33. 

The Lady Jackets offense didn't relent in the second half, scoring multiple baskets from beyond the arc to start the third period. Behind the hot shooting of Sabrina Ochoa and Micah Cisneroz, and the steady post play of Sarahi Castillo, Howard Payne was able to build a 31 point lead, 87-56 to end the third period. 

The fourth quarter didn't get any easier for LeTourneau as Howard Payne lead by at least 25 points the entire time. Valerie Matlock started to get hot and Dominique Featherstone came off the bench and provided a nice spark for the Lady Jackets to close out the game. Sabrina Ochoa and Micah Cisneroz continued their fine overall play and the Jackets would roll to the 107-79 victory. 

The Lady Jackets will next play host to #3 University of Texas at Tyler on Saturday, December 1st. Tip off is set for 1:00 pm and tickets are free for students and for children under the age of 12. Adult tickets to the public are $3 for adults, $2 for senior citizens and $1 for kids over the age of 12. 

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