BROWNWOOD, Texas – The Howard Payne University women's basketball team fell in its regular season finale 82-62 to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. The Lady Jackets will play the University of Texas at Tyler in the American Southwest Conference tournament next Thursday.

Despite outrebounding Mary Hardin-Baylor 46-42, Howard Payne struggled from the field shooting just 26.5% in the first half and 31.9% for the game. UMHB connected on 43.9% of its shots in the game.

The Lady Jackets got off to a slow start and fell behind by as much as 17 in the first half before cutting the UMHB lead to nine, 37-28 at the half.

Back to back three-pointers by Presley McKethan with 8 minutes left in the fourth cut the UMHB led to four, 61-57. The Lady Jackets would struggle from that point falling 82-62 in the final.

Valarie Matlock led HPU with 15 points, nine rebounds and six steals. Caprica Brooks followed 14 points.

UMHB was led by Hannah Holt with 25. Haven Neal had 18 and Addison Floyd had 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Howard Payne finishes the regular season at 15-10 overall and 11-6 in American Southwest Conference action. Mary Hardin-Baylor is now 21-4 overall and 14-3 in league play. The Lady Jackets next game will be in the opening round of the 2018 ASC Championship Tournament at the University of Texas at Dallas on Thursday, Feb. 22nd. The Lady Jackets will play East Texas Baptist University in a first round game at 5:00 pm.