BROWNWOOD, Texas – The Howard Payne University women's basketball team season ended with a 75-65 loss to Sul Ross State University in the quarterfinal round of the 2021 American Southwest Conference Women's Basketball Championship Tournament.

HPU's Amanda Turpin led all scorers with 23 points. Salina Ali followed with 18 points, six assists and six steals. Chelsey Harris added 10 points and a team high eight rebounds.

Despite forcing 32 Sul Ross State turnovers it was 27.3% shooting from the field for Howard Payne and being out rebounded by 20 (53-33) that proved to be the difference in the day.

Howard Payne shot under 30% from the field and was out rebounded 28-13 in the first half. With 48.3% shooting by Sul Ross, the Lobos led 42-30 at the halftime break.

The Lady Jackets outscored the Lobos 16-13 in the third quarter to pull within nine, 55-46. HPU was able to pull to within eight in the fourth but SRSU was able to hang on for the 75-65 final

Sul Ross was led by Vania Hampton and Alexis Carmosino with 19 points each. Hampton grabbed 14 rebounds and Carmosino grabbed 10 of her own.

Howard Payne finishes the season 10-7 overall and Sul Ross State stands at 10-13 on the year. Sul Ross will play the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor on Sunday, March 14^th in the semifinal round of conference championship tournament. Mary Hardin-Baylor defeated Hardin-Simmons 79-75 in overtime on Wednesday.