The host of the 2011 American Southwest Conference women’s basketball Championship Tournament, Howard Payne University pulled away late to beat the University of the Ozarks 59-42 Friday night at the Brownwood Coliseum.

Jasmin Thomas led HPU and scored all of her 13 points in the second half to energize the Lady Jacket charge of 32 points.

Host-jitters got to the Lady Jackets in the first half, as they entered the locker room at the break up only by six, 27-21. HPU shot just 35 percent (10 of 29) from the field in the first half.
In the second half, the game stayed about the same until the Eagles made a couple runs to pull within three of the Lady Jackets with ten minutes remaining in the game. Protecting their lead, the HPU defense swarmed into action and allowed only six points in the final nine minutes of the game, while scoring 20 themselves.

The HPU bench outscored Ozarks 20-7 and had 10 fast break points, while the Eagles had zero.

Sabrina Goddard led the Ozarks with 17 points and nine rebounds. Ashley Teague grabbed six rebounds.

Brittany Roberson was one rebound short of a double-double, with 10 points and nine boards. Clarissa Krum played big, putting up nine points and 11 rebounds. Sarah Pfiester led the team in with 12 boards.

The Lady Jackets next game will be at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26 at the Brownwood Coliseum against the UT-Dallas Lady Comets in the semi-finals of the ASC women’s basketball Championship tournament.