Photo by William Roberts/@c1osen
BELTON- Ranked No. 15 in the nation, the UMHB women’s basketball team had been ready to play on its home court. The Crusaders fared quite well with six straight road contests to start the year, as the season’s first month took them from Atlanta to Kerrville to east Texas. But back in the familiar setting of the Mayborn Campus Center on Thursday night, UMHB put on a show, handing Howard Payne its sixth straight loss in an 88-51 victory.
The Crusaders are now 6-1 overall, and 3-1 in ASC play.
How it happened
The Crusaders had little trouble gaining the lead in the game’s opening minutes, racing out to a 12-0 advantage following consecutive jumpers from Arieona Rosborough by the 5:46 mark of the first quarter. Everything seemed to go UMHB’s way on both ends of the floor, as HPU turned it over six times in the first six minutes, while the Cru extended its advantage to 15-1 on Kirsten Zaruba’s first-three pointer of the night.
It would not be her last, as the Temple College transfer, with a seemingly-effortless three-point shot, connected again and again from beyond the arc. She tallied 16 points on a 5-of-12 shooting mark from three-point range.
As the first half progressed, UMHB’s relentless defensive pressure paid great dividends, even as head coach Mark Morefield went to his bench. By the time Zaruba’s third three-pointer of the opening half swished through the net, with 2:46 remaining in the second quarter, UMHB held a 38-13 advantage, in large part due to a number of points off turnovers. In the contest, the Crusaders came away with an impressive 34 points off turnovers.
UMHB led 41-17 at halftime, and only added to that advantage as the third quarter began. By the time a timeout was called with 4:16 left in the third, the Crusaders had forced 22 turnovers, and led 55-27. Aja Holmes’ short-range shot with 3:57 left made it a 30-point advantage.
HPU slightly closed the gap as the game progressed and Morefield went deeper into his bench. But still, the Crusaders continued finding opportunities on all areas of the floor, distributing the ball with remarkable ease. Seven players finished with six points or more, as the Cru would often dribble upcourt quickly and into the lane, before dishing the ball to a teammate on the perimeter, who would then drive right back towards the basket, coming away with a layup more often than not. Within the game’s final minute, UMHB tallied three steals, two of which came from freshman guard Catalina Cortez, who was one of five Crusaders with two steals on the evening.
Team Stats
UMHB shot 47.4 percent from the field, which was the highest mark in a game this season for the Crusaders, as they converted on 36-of-76 attempts. The Cru also won the battle on the boards, with 37 rebounds to HPU’s 29. The 30 forced turnovers were the most in a game this season for UMHB.
Up Next
UMHB hosts Sul Ross State on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. in Belton. SRSU is 6-4 overall and 3-1 in ASC play under first-year head coach E.J. Lee Smith.
UMHB stat leaders
Points: Rosborough (18), Zaruba (16), Payton Hicks (9)
Rebounds: Ashley Faux (9), Kamryn Martinez (5), Katelen Brooks (4)
Assists: Lauren Baker (6), Jaycie Brisco (3)
