BROWNWOOD, Texas – The Howard Payne University Women's basketball team won their third straight game at the Brownwood coliseum on Saturday night against the University of Mary Hardin Baylor. The final score was 63-56.
 
Howard Payne sophomore Bria Neal led the Lady Jackets with 20 points on 6 of 10 shooting. She also contributed five rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
 
HPU went on a 10-0 run with less than six minutes left in the half to build a 27-15 advantage. Shooting 54.5% from the field, the Lady Jackets outscored the Crusaders 18-13 in the second quarter to take the seven-point lead at the half.
 
Howard Payne stayed steady in the second half and built a 14-point lead with three and half minutes left in the game. The Crusaders were unable to catch back up and the Lady Jackets took the 63-56 victory.

The Lady Jacket defense force 26 turnovers and held the Crusaders to just 33.9% shooting from the field and 16.7% from the three-point line.
 
Following Bria Neal's 20 points was Chelsey Harris with 14 points. Harris also had a team high seven rebounds. Lily Janek had a game high four steals.
 
Mary Hardin Baylor was led by Allaira Jones who had 19 points and 10 rebounds followed by Hannah Eggleston with eight points.
 
With a record of 6-4 overall and 3-1 in the American Southwest Conference, the Lady Jackets now sit in second place in the ASC west. The Crusaders fall to 8-6 overall and 4-5 in the ASC.
 
The Lady Jackets will travel to Abilene, Texas on Thursday Feb. 11^th to take on McMurry University at 5:30pm.