Howard Payne University earned a memorable 60–59 conference victory over the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor on Saturday afternoon in Brownwood, capping a special day inside the Brownwood Coliseum.

The win came on a night that celebrated 50 years of women's basketball at Howard Payne University, honoring the history and legacy of the program. The celebration added to the energy in the building, as fans gathered not only for an important ASC matchup but also to recognize generations of Lady Jackets who helped build the program. Halftime brought an extra dose of fun as the Eastland Old Rips took the court for a lighthearted game of Granny Basketball, drawing laughter and applause from the crowd.

On the court, the game featured back-and-forth action throughout. Howard Payne gained momentum coming out of halftime, outscoring Mary Hardin-Baylor 22–14 in the third quarter to take control. The fourth quarter turned into a defensive battle, with the Lady Jackets holding on through several Crusader pushes to preserve the one-point advantage at the final buzzer.

Caitlyn Parsons led Howard Payne with a strong all-around performance, finishing with 14 points and 15 rebounds. Hope Hermesmeyer added 12 points, while Amaris Ambriz chipped in nine points and Azaylee Santos contributed six. The Lady Jackets shot 39.3 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three-point range, combining efficient offense with timely defensive stops down the stretch.

With the victory, the Lady Jackets improved to 10–10 overall and 1–0 in ASC play, turning a celebratory afternoon into a complete success both on and off the court.