TACOMA, Washington- The Howard Payne University women's basketball season (1-0) didn't have to wait long for their first win of the season, as the Lady Jackets defeated the Pacific Lutheran University Lutes (1-1), 70-54, in the Olson Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon.
It was an unconventional start to the game. Junior guard Hope Hermesmeyer converted the first free throw to make it 1-0 Howard Payne before tipoff after a technical foul was charged to Pacific Lutheran. Sophomore Guard Gabriella Barrera hit the Lady Jackets' first three pointer of the game to make it 4-0 in favor to HPU. Pacific Lutheran then was able to get back into the game and take the lead when Kylie Griffin made a three-point shot to make it 6-5 Pacific Lutheran with 6:15 left to play in the first quarter.
The rest of the first quarter went back and forth between the two teams, but HPU managed to go on a 6-0 run to end the quarter. After the first quarter, HPU led 15-9 and was led in scoring by Barrera and sophomore guard Taylor McAfee, who both had three points.
The Lady Jacket's lead ballooned up to 29-11 after senior Jerzie Bryant cut to the basket and made a layup off an inbounds pass from Hermesmeyer before the Lutes took a quick 6-0 run to make it 29-17. The Lady Jackets took control for the rest of the half and went into halftime leading 35-22. Senior guard Madison Clay was the top scorer in the first half with seven, and Bryant added five points and four rebounds.
HPU shot 8-30 from the field in the first half but was able to lean on their free throw shooting. The Lady Jackets went 18-27 from the charity stripe.
In the third quarter, PLU HPU continued to trade baskets to open the second half. Sophomore center Caitlyn Parsons and Hermesmeyer carried the offensive load for Howard Payne to open the third quarter. The pair scored HPU's first 11 points in the quarter; however, Pacific Lutheran swung the momentum and trimmed the deficit down to six through a 9-2 run over the last four minutes to end the quarter. The Lutes shot 53% in this quarter, while the Lady Jackets shot 35% percent.
In the fourth quarter, PLU had trimmed down the deficit to five, but senior guard Racie Decker delivered for Howard Payne. Decker made two key free throws to push the lead back to seven, and then grabbed an offensive rebound on the Lady Jackets next possession that HPU was able to wind down crucial time off of the clock.
Howard Payne kept Pacific Lutheran from getting any closer and pulled away for the 70-54 victory. Hermesmeyer tallied 18 points, six assists and six rebounds in the game. Parsons scored seven points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Bryant had nine points and five rebounds.
"Very proud of our kids," head coach Rodney Gee said. "Played really well on the offensive side the entire game. We didn't make a lot of shots but ran good offense. We were very connected in the first half and guarded really well. I didn't think we communicated well in the second half on defense, but overall very good first game."
Up Next: The Howard Payne University women's basketball team will continue its Pacific Northwest trip on Tuesday, November 10, when the Lady Jackets play the Lewis and Clark College River Otters at the Pamplin Sports Center at 6:00 P.M. PT (8:00 P.M. CT).
