
• by Travis Hendryx •
BROWNWOOD, Texas- Sul Ross State University Women’s basketball fell to Howard Payne by an 80-69 score Saturday in Brownwood.
Chandre Nunez led with 26 points while Jocelyne Roque secured her first collegiate double double of 12 points and 12 rebounds.
The Lady Jackets jumped out to an early 5-0 lead.
Two free throws by Nunez pulled Sully to within three with 7:58 remaining in the first quarter.
The Lady Lobos were never able to grab the lead although a layup by Jessica Magallanes cut the Sul Ross deficit to two, trailing 7-5 at the 5:09 mark.
Howard Payne pulled ahead by nine twice and ended the period with a 20-11 lead.
In the second quarter, a three-pointer by Jazmine Saucedo narrowed the Lady Jacket lead to four at 6:30.
Liz Mata then drained a triple nearly two minutes later as Sul Ross trailed 25-22.
A three-pointer by Howard Payne’s Lily Janek at 3:22 gave the home squad its first double digit lead at 32-22 with 3:22 left before the break.
Saucedo ended the half with a layup as the Lady Lobos went to intermission down 32-28.
Howard Payne exploded to a 17-point lead in the third quarter off a 10-0 run as the Lady Jackets sat comfortably with a 58-41 advantage with 2:47 left in the period.
With 16 seconds left in the quarter, Janek banked from long range for a 67-51 lead heading to the final period.
Howard Payne never lost control and maintained their double digit lead allowing Sul Ross to pull to within 11, three times including the final 80-69 score.
Saucedo finished with a second team-high 13 points in Saturday’s effort.
The Lady Lobos drop to 4-12 on the season and 2-5 in ASC play. Howard Payne improves to 5-11 and 2-5.
Sully will visit McMurry University in a 5:30 p.m. ASC tip Thursday, January 17.