Lady Jackets Show Grit in Hard-Fought Battle Against Texas Lutheran
BROWNWOOD, Texas-The Howard Payne Lady Jackets wrapped up their opening weekend at home with a gritty performance against Texas Lutheran, falling 72–52 on Saturday afternoon inside the Brownwood Coliseum. The result evens the Lady Jackets' record at 1–1 after splitting their first two games of the season.
Freshman Forward Caitlyn Parsons powered Howard Payne with a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double, setting the tone on the boards and providing steady leadership throughout the game. Azaylee Santos continued her sharp perimeter shooting, knocking down a pair of three-pointers and tallying nine points with three steals.
Off the bench, Amaris Ambriz provided a spark with 10 points, including three shots from beyond the arc, while Kate Buchanan added a balanced effort with four points, five rebounds, and two assists. The Lady Jackets' reserves contributed 23 points, showcasing the team's depth and energy early in the season.
Howard Payne showed resilience all afternoon, answering each TLU run with defensive stops and hustle plays that fired up the home crowd. The Lady Jackets outscored Texas Lutheran in second-chance opportunities and continued to push the tempo until the final buzzer.
"I love our fight," said head coach Rodney Gee. "We played two tough games back-to-back and learned a lot about who we are. The effort, the energy, and the togetherness are there—now it's about finishing plays and staying consistent for four quarters."
The Lady Jackets will look to build on their strong opening weekend when they return to action on Monday, November 10th against McMurry University at 5:00pm.
