Texas Lutheran wins rematch against UMHB women's basketball, 68-52

Photo by Luke Zayas/Backwards Hat Media

SEGUIN, Texas — The first time UMHB women’s basketball faced TLU this season, the storyline that emerged from the 76-65 Crusader win was about the resilience, toughness, and shot-making of a team that had bounced back a day after a disappointing two-point loss.

When The Cru and Bulldogs squared off again on Wednesday night—this time inside TLU’s Memorial Gymnasium—it was TLU who was looking to respond after a pair of single-digit losses of their own a week ago.

And just as UMHB did on that Sunday afternoon in late November, TLU capitalized on its opportunity. The Bulldogs emerged as the aggressors, particularly in the second half, pulling away from The Cru in a 68-52 win that snapped their three-game losing skid. As for the visitors from Belton, the non-conference rematch against the defending SCAC champions yielded a sixth loss, lowering UMHB to 4-6 overall.

“TLU out-worked us tonight,” UMHB head coach Katie Novak-Lenoir said postgame. “We can’t expect to compete with the tough schedule we have if we don’t come with better effort. There is a lot that we can improve on from a skill and team standpoint. But fixing our effort immediately is my main priority.”

UMHB shot for a higher percentage than TLU, going 38% (19-of-50) to the Bulldogs’ 34% (21-of-62). But the disparity in field goal attempts tells the real story, especially on a day when the trips to the free throw line were nearly dead even (UMHB tallied 20 FT attempts, TLU tallied 21).

UMHB took 12 fewer shots in large part because The Cru turned it over eight more times than TLU, with the turnover margin turning the contest in the hosts’ favor. The Crusaders racked up 22 turnovers, which led to 22 of the Bulldogs’ points—roughly 32% of their overall point production. TLU turned it over just 14 times, and even at that, UMHB scored just 10 points off the takeaways.

Eight of UMHB’s 22 turnovers came in the third quarter, helping to fuel a 14-4 run that stretched TLU’s lead from one to 11 in just over 5 1/2 minutes. Seven of those 14 points immediately followed Crusader turnovers, as the Bulldogs took a 44-35 advantage into the fourth.

After going through three droughts of at least six consecutive missed shots early in the contest, TLU found an offensive rhythm over the final 10 minutes. UMHB did its best to keep pace, but ultimately lost more ground than it gained, outscored 24-17 in the fourth. TLU closed by converting on five of its last eight shots, the final three of which came from Zaria Solis as the Bulldogs sealed their first home win of 2025-26.

Solis, who played just 13 minutes in the first meeting between UMHB and TLU, saw an expanded role in the rematch, seeing 23 minutes of action. She scored 11 points as one of three TLU players in double figures, alongside Lauren Sansano (13) and Davi’Yan Jones (12).

Rachel Okoye and Amari Welch were the main source of UMHB’s offensive production, combining for 27 points, nearly 52% of The Cru’s scoring. Welch, who had 11 points, connected on two 3-pointers early in the opening quarter as UMHB gained a 6-0 lead out of the gate. Her first 3 came as part of an exceptional game-opening sequence in which Karlee Cronk forced a TLU turnover less than five seconds into the Bulldogs’ first possession, got the ball up the court quickly to Okoye, who then dished the first of her three assists to Welch in the left corner.

UMHB’s 6-0 run was quickly answered by TLU, who scored six straight points of its own, setting off a back-and-forth first half. The score was tied five different times in the first 20 minutes, and the lead changed hands seven times as both sides traded scores. UMHB took its last lead on an Okoye layup with 6:58 left in the second, going up 19-18.

With 4:10 left until halftime, Hannah Gallegos connected on a 3 off a turnover, putting the Bulldogs back in front. While Josie Bruder briefly tied the score at 25-25 with a layup through contact and an ensuing free throw, it was the closest UMHB got to reclaiming its advantage. TLU ended the first half on a 12-7 run, up 30-27 at halftime, and never surrendered that lead over the final two quarters.

The Cru now heads back into a key three-game homestand featuring matchups against George Fox (Dec. 14), UW-Whitewater (Dec. 17), and Trinity (Dec. 18) at the Mayborn Campus Center. George Fox, making the trip from Newberg, Oregon, is 3-1 against D3 competition this season, while UW-Whitewater is currently ranked No. 11 in the D3hoops.com Top 25. Trinity is in the midst of a hot streak, having won its last two over Concordia and TLU.