The win was the fifth in the last six games for the Lady Jackets (5-4, 2-1), who are tied for second place in the ASC West with Sul Ross (6-9, 4-2), percentage points behind division leader and eighth-ranked Hardin-Simmons (10-3, 5-2). The only loss in that span for HPU was by six points to No. 3 East Texas Baptist (17-0, 9-0).
“In spurts we had really good moments and in spurts we had really bad ones, but I can’t take anything away from these young ladies,” said Lady Jackets head coach Yannick Denson. “They’re playing with all they have mentally and physically, and we’ll take wins however we can get them.”
The Lady Jackets hit 44 percent (25 of 57) of their shots, 43 percent (9 of 21) of their three-pointers, and 68 percent (25 of 37) of their free throws. The Lady Jackets also forced 25 turnovers that led to 31 points, while committing just 15 turnovers. HPU also owned a 30-22 edge in points in the paint despite being outrebounded, 40-36.
“Taking care of the basketball was big,” Denson said. “We had 11 turnovers at halftime and finished with 15. That was one of our key points to winning the game today, not turning the ball over, and this was probably our lowest turnover game of the season. Then when you get 15 assists on 25 made baskets that’s not bad at all so big kudos to these girls for sharing the ball and being great teammates.”
Salina Ali sparked Howard Payne offensively with 24 points on 7 of 7 shooting, including 4 of 4 from three-point land, as well as a 6 of 6 effort at the free throw line, while also dishing out four assists with just one turnover. Defensively, Ali recorded five of the Lady Jackets’ 12 steals and yanked down three rebounds.
“That kid is tough as nails,” Denson said of Ali. “I don’t know what to say – 24 points, four assists, five steals and one turnover as a point guard in 32 minutes is pretty impressive. I don’t know if there’s any other guard in the ASC that’s playing basketball like that, so big ups to that kid and her work ethic. She’s doing things right and when you do things right it shows up out there on the basketball court.”
ASC West Player of the Week Chelsey Harris, Amanda Turpin and Bria Neal also finished in double figures with 16, 14 and 12 points, respectively. Also scoring for HPU were Lily Janek, Delaney Ingram and Mallory Garcia with four points apiece, and Kayla Brigance, Payge Grable and Catlyn Ward with two points each.
Concordia (2-3, 2-3) received 22 points from Madi Maxwell and 12 from Allie Garza as the Lady Tornados drained 40 percent (22 of 55) of their field goals, 47 percent (9 of 19) of their treys, and 72 percent (18 of 25) of their free throws.
The Lady Tornados erased a six-point third-quarter deficit and seized a 52-50 edge in the closing seconds of the frame, but Ali banked in a three-pointer as time expired, giving Howard Payne a 53-52 lead to the start the fourth period.
Ali’s desperation heave seemed to ignite the HPU offense, which shot 64 percent (9 of 14) in the final quarter. Turpin drained a pair of three-pointers for the Lady Jackets’ first buckets of the fourth quarter, stretching the lead to 59-54.
With Howard Payne in front by three, 67-64, with 5:04 to go, a seven-point surge for Howard Payne served as the knockout punch. A three-pointer and two free throws by Ali, along with a bucket from Turpin, padded the cushion to 74-64 with 4:06 left.
The lead continued to swell with HPU’s advantage peaking at 15 points, 84-69, with 33 seconds left following another trey from Ali.
“I thought we just focused in a little bit,” Denson said of the Lady Jackets’ fourth-quarter performance. “We made better reads and we made an adjustment defensively, so big kudos to Coach (Whitney) Odell on the call and (graduate assistant) Jade Rochelle. Good teams make adjustments to the way the game’s being called so we went from fouling the first half to eliminating our fouls in the second half, and I was really proud to see that.”
Howard Payne is back in action at 5 p.m. Saturday as it welcomes Mary Hardin-Baylor (8-5, 4-4), which is coming off a 55-46 loss at Sul Ross Thursday.
[Story by Derrick Stuckly]