The Howard Payne women’s basketball team defeated Hardin-Simmons University in overtime 86-85 to claim the 2013 American Southwest Conference West Division title.
It was HPU’s Blair Stone who got an offensive rebound and was fouled with just .9 seconds left in regulation that made the overtime victory possible. Stone hit two free-throws to tie the game at 75-75 sending it to overtime.
After a Tresta Donahoo layup gave the Lady Jackets the 86-85 lead with six seconds left in overtime, Senae Dillard came up with the steal to spoil HSU’s last second attempt.
Hardin-Simmons did outrebound the Lady Jackets 49-34 in the game but it was the well balanced scoring that was the advantage for Howard Payne.
Five Lady Jackets scored in double digits. Tresta Donahoo and Dana Marrs each finished with 16 points. Donahoo added a game high seven assists. Danyel Bradley had 12 points and nine rebounds, seven on the offensive glass. Senae Dillard and Blair Stone followed with 10 points each.
Hardin-Simmons was led by Alexis Popelar with a game high 26 points and 12 rebounds. Alicia Finn had 13, Taylor Rose had 12 and Jaclyn von der Heide followed with 11.
With the win, Howard Payne does clinch the ASC West Division title and the right to host the ASC Championship Tournament on February 22-24.
Howard Payne is now 20-3 overall and 15-2 in the ASC with two games to play in the regular season. The Lady Jackets have now had 10 straight 20-win seasons. The Lady Jackets will finish out the regular season on the road next week playing at Mary Hardin-Baylor on Thursday and Concordia University on Saturday.
The Howard Payne Yellow Jackets used free-throws to down Hardin-Simmons University 85-80 in men’s basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Brownwood Coliseum.
HSU jumped out to an early 19-8 lead and led by as many as 12 at 26-14 with 7:52 to play in the first half. However, the Yellow Jackets used a 16-4 run to take a 30-28 with 3:22 to play in the first half. The run was capped by a Donovan Ford 3-pointer. HSU led 35-33 at halftime.
Hardin-Simmons pushed their lead to 44-37 early in the second half before HPU started to chip away and the Jackets eventually took a 60-59 lead on a Brandon Gould layup with 9:28 to play.
A HSU 3-pointer gave them a 72-71 with 2:53 to play. HPU then scored the next seven points and closed the game with five of six at the free throw line in the final 30 seconds.
Howard Payne won the game with a huge difference at the free throw line. HPU made 26-of-37, while HSU was just 10-of-18. HPU outscored HSU 23-10 in fast break points and had a 23-13 advantage in bench scoring.
Eric Taylor led HSU with 31 points and Andy Spears had 15 points and 15 rebounds. John Derr added 11 points.
Christian Davis led the Yellow Jackets with 19 points. Brandon Gould added 14 points, eight assists, six rebounds and five steals and Ross Whittet added 11 points.
Howard Payne improves to 7-16 overall and 5-12 in conference while HSU falls to 14-9 overall and 11-6 in conference. Howard Payne will finish out the regular season on the road next week playing at Mary Hardin-Baylor on Thursday and Concordia University on Saturday.
