The Sul Ross State women's basketball team is more than just a unit.

It's a family.

When the team sticks together, it can achieve great things.

Saturday afternoon was one of those days.

Behind a solid team effort, the Lobos extended their winning streak to two with a 67-57 victory over Howard Payne at the Pete P. Gallego Center.

>> HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Lobos trailed 2-0 in the first quarter before going on a 7-0 run to take a five-point lead. Victoria Aguayo highlighted the run with a three as she scored all seven points.

Sul Ross State went up by eight with a score of 11-3 after a layup by Marley Rokas.

With a 5-0 run, Howard Payne cut the deficit down to three at the 2:22 mark.

The Lobos closed out the opening quarter with a 6-3 run to lead by six.

Sul Ross State led by as much as 10 with 7:30 to go in the second quarter. Rokas scored four of the six points during a 6-0 run.

Behind an 8-0 run, the Yellow Jackets trailed by two at the 6:17 mark. Howard Payne then used a 5-0 run to take a 30-29 lead.

The Lobos went back out in front after two made free throws by Rokas before the Yellow Jackets landed a layup to take a one-point lead with 2:15 left to go.

Koda Beltran hit a clutch three-pointer to put the Lobos ahead by two. Howard Payne then got a three of its own with less that four seconds to go in the quarter to take a one-point lead into the locker room.

The third quarter had six lead changes.

Sul Ross State held a four-point lead where Aguayo tallied a pair of layups and one steal during the run.

Howard Payne used a 7-0 run to take a three-point lead at the 2:26 mark.

The Lobos got a free throw from Aguayo and a layup by Caitlyn Corley to tie up the score at 47-all at the end of three.

Sul Ross State began the final quarter on a 6-0 run.

Using another 6-0 run, the Lobos extended their lead to nine with 1:37 to go in the contest after Emily Bunger, Rokas and Ariana Escalante all capitalized in the paint.

Sul Ross State went up by 12 with 37 seconds to go after going on a 5-0 run.


>> RECORDS: Sul Ross State (6-10); Howard Payne (6-10)


>> POSTGAME INTERVIEWS:

"Well, we have a lot of injuries with concussions and ankle sprains, but we push through it. We've been working together as a team. We've just been pushing each other at practice every day. I think it was just a team effort on defense." — Victoria Aguayo

"We worked this whole week. We knew that they were going to be really scrappy. The defense is honestly what won us our game. Our guards at the top of our press — they got three back-to-back steals that would get us a really good run that we needed when we were down. I knew my outside shot was on today. Me and Emily were working on the in and out game, and that's what helped me get my 20 today." — Marley Rokas

"Victoria (Aguayo) did an unbelievable job defensively and offensively. She was making shots. I was very pleased with her. Kayley (Diaz) stepped up. I'm so proud of her. Emily (Bunger) was struggling to make shots, but she had eight rebounds. During crunch time, she grabbed rebounds. We fought and competed the entire 40 minutes. Good things are going to happen as long as we compete. That's what happened today. We are all about family and team right now. I'm very proud of each and every one of them." — Head coach E.J. Lee Smith


>> GAME NOTES:

• Rokas finished with 20 points and eight rebounds. She also shot 6 for 6 from the free throw line.
• Aguayo added with 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists and six steals.
• Aguayo continues to lead the conference with 65 steals.
• Escalante added with eight points and five rebounds.
• Kayley Diaz tallied seven points, four steals, six assists and three rebounds.
• Bunger had six points, three assists and eight rebounds.
• The Lobos won the battle on the glass with 42 rebounds compared to Howard Payne's 39.
• Sul Ross State shot 19 of 25 from the free throw line.
• The lead changed 13 times throughout the contest.
• The Lobos got 31 points off of turnovers.

>> UP NEXT: Sul Ross State takes on the University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson, Texas on Thursday, Jan. 18 at 5:30 p.m. CST.