BROWNWOOD, Texas - Women's hoops advanced to the ASC Semifinals for the first time in program history on Wednesday night after a 75-65 road win over Howard Payne in the ASC Quarterfinals.

"I'm so proud of the girls," said head coach Katie Novak in the postgame press conference. "I feel like this whole season they've just overcome adversity and anything can happen when you get to this point. The big thing is doing the work to get here and I know we're competitive and I know when we show up and work, I feel like we can beat anybody and I told them that all year."

Vania Hampton continued her tear against Howard Payne this season with 19 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Alexis Carmosino tied Hampton for a team-high 19 points and added 10 rebounds as they both came away with double-doubles.

Rebounding proved to be a big factor in the game with the Lobos coming away with 20 more boards than the Lady Jackets, 53-33.

Down 2-0, Vania Hampton proved to be a force in the paint with three straight layups for a 6-0 answer and the lead.

Sully held a slim lead until Alexis Carmosino and Cassie Hogan connected on a layup and a jumper respectively for an 11-6 advantage with 2:39 left in the first quarter.

HPU hit a free throw but quickly fell behind 16-7 after a three-pointer from Carmosino and another layup from Hampton for a 16-7 advantage at 1:44.

Scoring stalled in the final minute of the first and a triple from the Lady Jackets with 1:03 left was the final bucket for a 16-10 lead for the Lobos heading to the second quarter.

Carmosino opened the second with a triple for a 19-10 lead.

HPU answered with a triple, but a 6-0 run from Sully with two free throws from Kaylee Martinez and Carmosino and a jumper from Caitlyn Corley made it 25-16 at 7:01.

The Lobos lead eventually slimmed to four before growing back to 11 with a 7-0 run. It saw a pair of buckets from Martinez and a triple from Keona Loftis for a 37-26 lead.

Howard Payne stopped the prior run with a free throw, but it proved to be part of a larger 12-1 run after Loftis sank a pair of free throws and then sank a triple for a 42-27 lead late in the half.

The Lady Jackets hit a late three-pointer for the final bucket and a 42-30 score heading to the break.

Teresa Quintana opened second half scoring with a triple for a 45-30 lead early in the third quarter.

HPU answered with the next five before Hampton came back with a jumper and a layup for a 14-point lead at 7:13.

Sully continued to hold a double-digit lead until the Lady Jackets finished the third with a triple for a 55-46 score heading to the fourth.

Loftis and Carmosino hit back-to-back triples to start the fourth quarter for a 61-46 lead.

The Lady Jackets cut it to 12, but scoring stalled from there with the next four coming from the Lobos over the next 2:51 for a 65-49 lead with 5:18 left.

HPU made it a game late with an 8-0 run for a 65-57 score at 3:23.

Sully put any comeback thoughts to bed with a 6-0 answer over the next 1:52 for a 71-57 advantage.

The Lady Jackets again cut it to eight, but the Lobos secured their first tournament win in program history, 75-65 over Howard Payne to advance to the ASC Semifinals.

Martinez and Loftis came up big for the Lobos with 14 points each. Martinez finished with seven rebounds and Loftis added three assists and two steals.

Many made an impact on the night with Hogan and Quintana adding six and five rebounds respectively to help Sully to a 20-rebound advantage in the game.

With the win and a 79-75 overtime victory for Mary Hardin-Baylor over Hardin Simmons, the Lobos will host the remainder of the ASC Tournament at the Gallego Center.


SEMIFINALS: Sunday, March 14

Sul Ross State (10-13) vs. East Texas Baptist (24-0)
3:00 p.m.

Game 6: UT Dallas (14-3) vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor (12-8)
5:30 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP: Monday, March 15

Game 7: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6
6:00 p.m.