Howard Payne women's basketball kept the holiday spirit rolling Friday night, cruising past Centenary (La.) 85–40 at the Brownwood Coliseum during the program's "Sting 'Em with Santa" theme night.

With Santa in the building and a festive crowd on hand, the Lady Jackets delivered a gift of their own, building momentum quarter by quarter and pulling away for their third straight victory. HPU led 35–22 at the half before opening things up in the second half, outscoring Centenary 50–18 over the final two periods.

Caitlyn Panuco set the tone offensively, finishing with 22 points on a perfect 8-for-8 shooting night while adding seven assists and eight rebounds. Kaley Nicholson provided a spark from the perimeter, knocking down five three-pointers on her way to 17 points, while Kate Buchanan chipped in 12 points and nine rebounds inside.

Howard Payne shot 52 percent from the field and connected on 14 three-pointers, moving the ball well with 20 assists on the night. The Lady Jackets also controlled the glass, out-rebounding Centenary 45–25, and used balanced scoring to put the game out of reach early in the third quarter.

The win pushes HPU to three consecutive victories as the Lady Jackets continue to find their rhythm heading into the heart of the season, doing so in fitting fashion on a night filled with Christmas cheer and plenty of Sting 'Em spirit.