BROWNWOOD, Texas – The Howard Payne University women's basketball team played stellar defense in the fourth quarter leading to a 76-73 victory for the Lady Jackets over Hardin-Simmons University Thursday evening.
Howard Payne outscored Hardin-Simmons 26-13 in the fourth quarter and held the Cowgirls to just 26.7% shooting in the period to claim the 76-73 win over the ASC West Division leader.
Trailing 60-50 going into the fourth, the Lady Jackets started the quarter with a 16-6 run to tie the game at 66-66 with 4:22 left to play.
The key play in the closing seconds was a
Lily Janek steal and
Catlyn Ward layup with 12 seconds left in the game to give the Lady Jackets a 74-72 advantage.
HPU shot 66.7% from the field in the fourth while holding the rebounding advantage in the game 41-37.
Bria Neal led the Lady Jackets with 16 points and a game high 10 rebounds.
Chelsey Harris and
Mallory Garcia each added 12 points.
Lily Janek had 10 points,
Catlyn Ward with nine and
Salina Ali with eight.
Howard Payne is now 9-13 overall and 5-8 in American Southwest Conference action. Hardin-Simmons stands at 17-5 overall and 11-2 in league play. The Lady Jackets will take on McMurry University Saturday afternoon at home, it will be a 1:00 pm tip off.
