RICHARDSON, Texas – The Howard Payne University women's basketball team forced 31 turnovers but fell 50-36 to East Texas Baptist University Thursday evening in the first round of the 2018 American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament.

Howard Payne held East Texas Baptist to 37.5% shooting but would only connect on 19.4% of its shots from the field in the game. ETBU outrebounded HPU 49-41 with 22 of HPU's 41 rebounds coming on the offensive glass.

After being down 26-14 at the half, the Lady Jackets were able to cut the lead to nine, 42-33 on a Dominique Featherstone layup with 6:10 left in the fourth quarter. ETBU would outscore HPU 8-3 the rest of the way out to the 50-36 final.

Featherstone led HPU with nine points and three steals. Presley McKethan followed with eight points. Caprica Brooks had seven points and Valarie Matlock finished with four steals.

East Texas Baptist was led by Sydney Saxton with 12 points and eight rebounds.

Howard Payne finishes the season at 15-11 overall ETBU stands at 20-6 overall and advances to the next round of the ASC tournament.