The Howard Payne Lady Jacket basketball team cruised to a 75-51 win over the University of California Santa Cruz Banana Slugs in their second game at the Posada Royale Holiday Classic hosted by California Lutheran University. 

A 15-2 game opening run by the Lady Jackets was enough cushion as HPU never trailed. Howard Payne scored 22 points off 12 first half Banana Slugs’ turnovers and outscored UCSC 26-8 in the paint over the opening 20 minutes. 

Howard Payne shot over 50 percent for the game as 11 different players contributed to the scoring column. 

HPU was led by Hope Hohertz with 12 points followed by Sarah Pfiester with 10 points off the bench. Elaine Hobbs had 9 and Roshonda Gayden added 8 points and 8 rebounds. 

UC Santa Cruz was led by Molly Davison with 17 and Iveth Cuellar with 10 points.

At the end of the classic, HPU landed three players on the All-Posada Royale Classic team. Elaine Hobbs was named to the first-team, and Roshonda Gayden and Hope Hohertz were named to the second-team. 

Lady Jackets improve to 9-2 overall and UC Santa Cruz falls to 2-13 on the year. HPU will come back to Texas and travel to Sul Ross State on Tuesday for an ASC West Division contest. 

Complete All-Posada Royale Classic team
Kristin LeBel (EMM) – Most Outstanding Player

First Team
Kam Acree (NPU)
Julie Henninger (MESS)
Elaine Hobbs (HPU)
Fiona O’Dwyer (EMM)
Brianna Parker (CLU)

Second Team
Iman Davis (EMM)
Molly Davisson (UCSC)
Roshonda Gayden (HPU)
Hope Hohertz (HPU)
Kira Maier (MESS)