The Howard Payne University Lady Jacket basketball team forced 34 Texas Lutheran University turnovers in a 56-45 conference win Thursday evening at Memorial Gymnasium.
After shooting just 28% from the field in the first half, Howard Payne held just a 28-27 halftime advantage. Texas Lutheran shot 44% from the field and outrebounded HPU by 10 in the opening half. It was the Lady Jackets forcing 18 TLU turnovers that kept HPU in the game.
With the win, Howard Payne improves to 14-2 overall and 10-2 in ASC play, while TLU falls to 3-12 overall and 2-10 in conference.
In the opening five minutes of the second half, Howard Payne had a 13-2 run sparked by three-point shooting by Kayla Scott. Jasmin Thomas, who had four first half steals, added a few more to help fuel the run.
TLU put together a run and cut the HPU lead to 49-44 with three minutes remaining. Howard Payne would hold TLU to just one free-throw in the closing minutes to secure the 56-45 win. HPU forced an additional 16 TLU turnovers in the second to post 34 for the game.
Brittany Roberson led the Lady Jackets with 15 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Jasmin Thomas had 10 points to go along with her seven steals. Britani Gattis came off the bench and scored 12.
Katy Scott led TLU with 16 points followed by Italy Taylor with 12.
Howard Payne will continue on their road trip with a game in Kerrville on Saturday versus Schreiner University.
Howard Payne University gets 22 points from freshman Brandon Gould but the Yellow Jackets fall to Texas Lutheran University 78-75 Thursday night in conference action.
Both teams shot 50% for the game but the difference was Texas Lutheran hitting seven three-pointers to four for Howard Payne.
The Yellow Jackets are now 7-9 overall and 5-7 in conference. Texas Lutheran stands at 7-9 overall and 6-6 in ASC play.
The game was tied at 21-21 with 8:31 on the clock in the first half. From that point Texas Lutheran would go on a 22-3 run to open up the game. TLU led 43-24 with 1:54 left in the half. Howard Payne then scored nine topped by a Brandon Gould halfcourt bucket at the buzzer to bring the score to 44-33 Texas Lutheran at the half.
The Jackets chipped away at the TLU lead in the second half and would tie it up at 55-55 with 9:49 left on a layup by Quentin Callaway.
Texas Lutheran recaptured the lead and extended it to nine, 72-63, with 3:40 left in the game. The Jackets cut the TLU lead to two with 43 seconds left to play. Two free-throws by Brandon Gould brought Howard Payne within two, 76-74.
After TLU hit a 12-foot jumper with 15 seconds remaining, Howard Payne’s attempt came up short and TLU won 78-75.
Brandon Gould led all scorers with 22 points and six assists. Brandon Irwin had 15.
Matthew Agonis had 14 for TLU. Michael Florez added 13. Brandon Potts and Isaac Williams each added 11.
