Second Half Push Defeats Pirates

BELTON, Texas - Tuesday night, Mary Hardin-Baylor got the revenge they were searching for, using a second half surge to give Southwestern their first loss of the season. 

Southwestern controlled the first half, never allowing Mary Hardin-Baylor to lead in the opening frame and even led by as many as ten points. 

The Crusaders steadily chipped away at the Pirates' lead and pulled within three points, 39-36, at halftime. 

Southwestern jumped right back into the attack as the second half got underway, building their lead back to nine points, 50-41, three and a half minutes in. Seven minutes later UMHB took the lead for the first time in the contest. 

Behind Chelsea Leeder, SU pushed their lead back to seven with under four minutes to play, but couldn't get the defensive stops they needed as the Cru came charging back. After the ninth tie of the contest with 1:20 to go, Mary Hardin-Baylor took the lead for the final time and held Southwestern to just two points in the final minute and a half to steal the win. 

Leeder led all scorers with 28 points while Joradn Owens added in 17 and Audrey Garcia 10. Annie Bourne once again controlled the boards with a game-high 18 rebounds, but the Pirates were out-rebounded overall 56-47.

Southwestern shot 43.3% from the field and 20% from three point range while holding UMHB to 39.2% from the field and 16.7% from the three point line.

The loss drops the Pirates to 2-1 on the season while UMHB improves to 1-2. SU returns to action on Saturday in a neutral site contest, facing Schreiner University in San Antonio at 2 p.m.