The Howard Payne Lady Jackets started their 2020-21 basketball campaign in impressive fashion Friday night at the Brownwood Coliseum, cruising past the first-year program from North American University, 93-39, in exhibition action.

Leading comfortably by a 43-22 count at halftime, the Lady Jackets reeled off a 17-0 run during the third period to put the game out of reach. Howard Payne’s lead eventually peaked at 54 points as the Lady Jackets led for all but 7 seconds in the contest.

Howard Payne knocked down 53 percent (32 of 61) of its shots, including 50 percent (9 of 18) of its three-pointers. North American managed to convert just 19 percent (12 of 62) of its field goal attempts and 11 percent (3 of 27) of its treys.

The Lady Jackets also owned a 53-40 edge in rebounds and forced 29 turnovers to help overcome the 25 they committed. Howard Payne recorded six blocked shots as well.

Brownwood graduate Mallory Garcia paced the HPU offense with 13 points trailed by 11 from Salina Ali, 10 apiece from Lily Janek, Amanda Turpin and Kayla Brigance, 9 from Bria Neal, 6 from both Kassidy Nowak and Trynadee Greenwell, 5 apiece from Sarah Craig and Haley Arledge, 4 from Delaney Ingram, 2 from Catlyn Ward and 1 point each from Chelsey Harris and Mackenzy Mouton.

Brigance and Ward led HPU with six rebounds each, Harris dished out a team-high four assists, and Ingram and Brigance recorded two blocks apiece.

For North American, Makayla Patterson poured in 12 points while Kailee Valentine was the only other player in double figures with 10.

North American University, located in Houston, was playing its inaugural game.

The Lady Jackets’ next action is slated for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17 at home against Southwestern Assemblies of God.