By Justin Corbett

BELTON, Texas – Vania Hampton and Cassie Hogan combined for 33 points, but it would not be enough in a 69-63 loss Thursday night to Mary Hardin-Baylor.
 
In a game that would not see a point scored until the 6:07 mark in the first quarter, Sul Ross found themselves down 2-0.

Hampton would answer with a free throw more than a minute later to cut the lead to 2-1 before going on to score the next four points to give Sul Ross a 5-4 lead with a shot clock buzzer-beating mid-range jumper at 2:47.

The Cru would answer with a 5-0 run to end the first quarter with a 9-5 lead.

Sully would begin the second quarter with a 5-2 run on a turnaround jumper and a couple free throws from Hampton before a free throw from Cassie Hogan at the 9:11 mark cut the deficit to one, leading to a Cru timeout.

Following the timeout, UMHB's offense would heat up and answer with a 10-4 run of their own to push their lead to 20-15.

The Lady Lobos answered with a quick 6-0 run, started with a layup from Ashley Nunez, complimented by another layup this time from Alexis Carmosino and capped with another layup by Nunez to give Sully a 21-20 lead with 2:00 remaining in the first half.

Both sides would trade buckets before Sully grabbed a 26-22 lead with a Carmosino three-pointer with 18 seconds left.

UMHB answered with a layup as time expired to cut the lead to 26-24 at halftime.

The Cru came out firing in the second half with a couple quick jumpers, but Keona Loftis would have the answer with a wing three to put Sully back up 29-28.

UMHB responded by hitting a pair of free throws to reclaim a slim 30-29 lead, but Teresa Quintana hit a free throw of her own on the next possession to tie it at 30.

Both sides traded baskets again, but a Hogan three-point play gave Sully a 33-32 lead with 6:12 to play in the third quarter. Hogan would hit another free throw on the next Lobo possession to stretch the lead to 34-32.
 
UMHB responded with a triple to reclaim a 35-34 lead, but Hampton hit a free throw to tie the game at 35-35.

Neither team would be able to get more than one possession ahead for the rest of the quarter and we found ourselves deadlocked 41-41 heading into the final quarter.

Hogan and Hampton would score on back-to-back possessions to open the fourth quarter as Sully started a 6-2 run that was finished with another Hogan layup.

UMHB answered with a 4-0 run of their own to tie the game at 47 apiece.

Hogan would get to the rim and convert an and-1 with 8:12 left to give Sully one of six different three-point leads they would enjoy in the final quarter

UMHB tied the game at 1:35 and used that momentum to go on a 12-4 run to close out the game for a 69-63 win over the Lobos.

Hampton added 12 rebounds to go with a game-high 17 points to earn her eighth double-double of the season.

Hogan's 16 points came with four rebounds.

With the loss, Sul Ross falls to 8-13 (6-5) and fall to third place in the ASC West. UMHB improves to 11-7 (7-6).

Sul Ross is back in action on Saturday in Austin to take on Concordia.