Women's Hoops Edged by Howard Payne

BROWNWOOD, Texas - The Austin College women's basketball team led Howard Payne after the opening quarter, but the Jackets outscored the 'Roos by 14 in the second and third periods in a 59-54 contest on Monday evening. The 'Roos are now 1-3 overall on the year.

Austin College grabbed a 14-11 lead at the end of the first quarter, and the 'Roos maintained a lead of 21-18 midway through the second. However, the Jackets used an 11-2 run over the final three minutes of the half to surge ahead and go into the break leading 29-23. The margin grew to 34-25 two minutes into the third, and after Austin College battled back to trim it to a 34-32 game on a basket by Naomi Anamekwe, the Jackets used another big run to close the quarter, taking a 47-36 lead into the final 10 minutes of action.

Howard Payne took its biggest lead of the game with 7:55 left to play, going on top 52-38, but a 9-0 run highlighted by five points from Grace Moothart cut it to a 52-47 game with 4:34 remaining. The Jackets answered with five straight points to get the lead back to double-figures, but the 'Roos scored the next seven, capped by a bucket from Anamekwe to make it 57-54 with 1:30 left. However, that would be the final basket of the game for Austin College, and HPU knocked down two free throws in the closing seconds to seal things.

Anamekwe and Brooklyn Matthews scored 10 points each to lead Austin College, with Anamekwe adding five rebounds and two steals while Matthews grabbed six boards. Lauren Traylor chipped in nine points and six rebounds, while Moothart hit 3-of-4 shots, including her lone three point attempt, on her way to eight points. Lexi Martin contributed seven points and a team-best seven rebounds in the loss. Taysie Trejo scored 18 for Howard Payne to lead all scorers. Howard Payne knocked down 12-of-30 threes in the game, compared to 2-of-15 for the 'Roos.