Britani Gattis posted a double double to help lead Howard Payne to a 61-54 win over visiting Mississippi College Thursday evening in women’s basketball action.
The Lady Jackets forced 22 Mississippi College while committing14 themselves. Howard Payne scored 27 points off the MC turnovers and had 10 more attempts from the free-throw line, 21 attempts for HPU only 11 for MC.
The Lady Jackets would hold an 11 point lead midway through the first half only to have MC rally to gain a 31-25 halftime lead. HPU kicked up the defensive pressure in the second holding MC to just 23 points in the final 20 minutes.
Britani Gattis scored 14 while grabbing a team high 12 rebounds. Tresta Donahoo scored a game high 25 points with eight rebounds. Dana Marrs added nine points.
MC was led by Jamie Lack with 14 and Traci Rodgers with 10. Ebony Williams grabbed a game high 16 rebounds.
Howard Payne improves to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in conference. MC falls to 3-2 overall and 0-1 in ASC play.
The Lady Jackets will take on Louisiana College at home on Saturday at 1:00 pm.
Donovan Ford scored 16 off the bench for Howard Payne University but the Yellow Jackets would fall 76-70 to Mississippi College in men’s basketball action Thursday evening.
Mississippi College outscored the Jackets 36-18 in the paint while outrebounding Howard Payne 49-41 for the game.
The Jackets found themselves down early but would fight back to tie the game at 15-15 on a Christian Davis three-pointer with 11 minutes to play in the first.
After holding a 35-29 halftime lead, MC would push their lead to 13 points in the opening minutes of the second. The Jackets battled back to tie the game at 52-52 on a Donovan Ford three pointer with 8:30 left in the game.
MC pushed their lead back to as much as nine in the final minutes. The Jackets would only be able to get within two with three minutes remaining eventually falling 76-70.
Donovan Ford had his best game as a Jacket with 16 points off the bench. He was 4 of 6 from behind the arc. JaKalan Gayden finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Brandon Gould had 13 points, four assists and four steals. Travis Taillet had 11 and Michael Thompson added a game high six assists.
Brandon Blake led MC with a game high 23 points. Daryl Duncan had 16 and Turmonte Ragland had 14.
Howard Payne is now 1-3 overall and 0-2 in conference. MC stands at 3-0 overall and 1-0 in ASC action. The Jackets will play Louisiana College on Saturday at home starting at 3:00 pm.