BELTON — It was another tall task for the Sul Ross State women's basketball team on Saturday afternoon.

The Lobos took on the No. 12/15 ranked University of Mary Hardin-Baylor at the Mayborn Campus Center.

Sul Ross battled in the first half, but the Crusaders pulled out the victory, 71-61.

The Lobos dropped down to fifth in the American Southwest Conference standings while the Crusaders remain tied for second behind first-place and undefeated Hardin-Simmons.

In the opening quarter, Sul Ross used a 6-0 run to break an early 2-2 tie. Marley Rokas knocked down a clutch three-pointer to make the score 8-2.

Kayley Diaz made a free throw to close the first quarter, giving the Lobos a 9-5 lead.

Two quick free throws by Rokas and a three-pointer by Melody Martinez put the Lobos up by six. Martinez added to the lead later on by making a layup.

Sul Ross had led by as much as eight on two occasions in the second quarter. The Crusaders battled all the way back to tie the game at 22-all with 5:04 remaining until halftime.

UMHB went on a 5-0 run to lead 27-22.

The Lobos cut the deficit to one after two free throws by Victoria Aguayo and a jumper by Emily Bunger to close out the first half.

To start the second half, Sul Ross led by as much as five after four points from Lauren Lusk on a pair of jumpers and a jumper by Rokas.

The script was flipped as the Crusaders tied up the score twice before running away with a nine-point lead.

Diaz landed jumper to put Sul Ross behind by five after three quarters.

UMHB outscored the Lobos 22-17 in the fourth quarter to pull away for the victory.

Lusk led Sul Ross with 13 points while Martinez had 12. Rokas finished with 11 points and Vania Hampton chipped in with eight points.

Rokas and Lusk grabbed six rebounds each as the Lobos finished with 37 boards.

Sul Ross shot 13 of 24 from the free throw line while it also made four 3-pointers. Hampton made two shots from beyond the arc.

>> RECORDS: Sul Ross 6-5 (3-2); UMHB 7-1 (4-1)

>> HEAD TO HEAD: Since 2012, the Lobos have only defeated UMHB once. Sul Ross came away with a 55-46 win back on Feb. 4, 2021.

>> UP NEXT: The Lobos travel to San Antonio for an exhibition against NCAA Division I Incarnate Word at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18.