The Howard Payne University women’s basketball team led the game for 30 minutes before giving up the lead with 10 minutes left. The Lady Jackets fell 64-68 to Mississippi College Saturday afternoon.
To start the game, the Lady Jackets came out and captured a 10-2 lead. At the half the Lady Jackets led MC 32-30. They shot 40 percent from the floor, making 12 of 30 shots and were 3 of 11 from behind the arc.
In the second, women would not be able to put the game away, never leading by more than 4. MC would fight back and grab the lead with 9:51 left in the game.
HPU would tie the game up when Katy Sarem made a three point shot with 37 seconds remaining. MC turned around and converted the very next possession to take the lead back when Jalessa Taylor scored a lay up to make it 66-64 with 10 seconds remaining.
On HPU’s next possession Senior Tiffany Warner’s three-point attempt would be no good. MC put the game away converting on free-throws in the closing seconds.
Sarem finished with a career high 26 points, five rebounds and four steals for HPU. Brittany Roberson had 14 points and 6 rebounds.
Four players for the Choctaws finished in double digits. Randa Lee had 12, Elizabeth had 10, Jalessa Taylor had 19 and Traci Rodgers had 13.
The Lady Jackets go to 2-4 on the year overall and 0-4 in the American Southwest Conference. MC stays undefeated and goes to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the ASC.
The next game for the Lady Jackets is at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11 against UT-Tyler in Tyler, Texas.
