Jasmin Thomas scored a career high 22 points to help the Howard Payne University Lady Jackets to a 66-55 win over Centenary College Saturday afternoon.
Howard Payne forced 21 Centenary turnovers allowing HPU to get 14 fastbreak points to Centenary’s 4. The HPU bench was a major contributor as usual scoring 31 points to Centenary’s 15.
Howard Payne now stands at 11-2 overall. Centenary, though competing in the American Southwest Conference schedule does not count as a conference game, falls to 4-9 overall.
Leading the majority of the first half, Howard Payne led at the break 34-24. The Lady Jackets broke open the game starting the second half with a 10-0 run.
Centenary would pull within eight in the second half only to have the Lady Jackets put together another run to secure the game.
Jasmin Thomas led all scorers with a career high 22 points on 9 of 15 shooting. Thomas also had six rebounds, three assists and three steals. Tresta Donahoo and Roshonda Gayden both added 11 points. Gayden finished with a career high 15 rebounds.
Vashni Sharp-Moore led Centenary with 16 points. Dio Warr and Megan Daniel had 13 and 10 points respectively. Warr had 10 rebounds with Jalena Sanders adding 11 rebounds.
The Lady Jackets will be back at home next week against McMurry on Thursday at 5:30 pm and Hardin-Simmons on Saturday at 1:00 pm.
Pictured above: Jasmin Thomas scores career high 22 points against Centenary.
Although Howard Payne University had three players in double digits, the Jackets could not put together enough offense to keep up with Centenary College falling 90-64 Saturday afternoon.
The Yellow Jackets now stand at 6-7 overall. Centenary, though competing in the American Southwest Conference schedule does not count as a conference game, improves to 3-7 overall.
Howard Payne found themselves down early with Cetenary going up 10-3 after just five minutes of play. Centenary never trailed in the opening half and led by as many as nine (26-17) with 6:09 left.
Howard Payne pulled within two (16-14) after four straight points, but Centenary extended their lead back with six straight points. The Gents led at the half, 36-27.
The Jackets started the second half strong trimming the lead to just four points (39-35). Then a Centenary 15-2 run followed putting the game out of the Yellow Jackets reach.
Joshua Dada led HPU with 18 points. Brandon Irwin had 12 and Henry Valladares had 11. Brandon Gould had nine with four assists and Ja’Kalan Gayden grabbed 11 rebounds.
Maxx Nakwaasah led all scorers with 29 points and 11 rebounds for Centenary. Caden Cheramie had 11 and Daniel Allen added 10.
The Jackets will be at home next week against McMurry University on Thursday at 7:30 pm and Hardin-Simmons on Saturday at 3:00 pm.
