Howard Payne only managed 35.2% shooting, while Mary Hardin-Baylor shot 41.5% in the game.
Mary Hardin-Baylor gained an early 9-3 lead on a three-pointer by Julie Amabile. HPU’s Kristin Hendricks tied the game at 11-11 on three-pointer with 12:35 left in the first period. The Lady Jackets opened the game up from there building a 23-15 lead with 6 minutes to play. HPU went into the half with a 31-21 advantage.
Both teams shot 33% from the field in the first half.
Early in the second, HPU extended their lead to 38-23. UMHB cut the HPU lead to nine, 48-39, with 11:05 to play on a lay-up by Shannon Barnes. That was as close as UMHB got as Howard Payne went on to win 65-58.
Howard Payne was led by Stacey Blalock and Meia Daniels with 19 each.
Mary Hardin-Baylor got 14 points out of Julie Amabile and 11 from Shannon Barnes. Kellie Thomas had 10 and Christian Thomlinson recorded 6 blocks.