UMHB struggled on the defensive end late in the first half, then suffered through a 4½-minute scoreless drought down the stretch of an 80-71 loss to Trinity at Mayborn Campus Center.
Having fought back from an eight-point deficit to tie it at 65-all on the second of consecutive buckets by Kellie Thomas with 6:28 left, the Lady Crusaders (0-2) came up empty on their next six trips down the floor and didn’t score again until Landie Thompson’s layup cut the gap to 72-67 with 1:54 to go.
“We had a stretch in both halves where we were shooting it quick and missing, then running down and either giving up an easy look or fouling,” UMHB coach Kim Kirkpatrick-Thornton said. “If we don’t have numbers, then we should be setting up and executing our offense. And we weren’t.”
After Thompson’s layup, the Lady Crusaders’ only points were a pair of baskets in the final seven seconds when the outcome was already sealed.
Krista Matthews had game-highs of 30 points - including 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in the final 90 seconds - and 17 rebounds for the Tigers (3-1).
The 6-1 Matthews was uncontested for much of the first half, when she pulled down five offensive rebounds and scored 16 points.
But still UMHB led by as many as six points early and was up 27-23 with 6:40 left in the half before Trinity made a run. The Tigers converted on eight of their last 14 possessions before halftime and took a 40-35 lead into intermission.
“Those last five or so minutes of the first half were some of the most damaging of the game,” Kirkpatrick-Thornton said.
But heading into its American Southwest Conference opener at home Saturday against Texas-Dallas, UMHB did have some positives.
Three Lady Crusaders posted double-digit point production, led by Thompson’s 20 points. Jenny Black and Thomas added 14 apiece. UMHB also totaled 10 steals but offset those with 21 turnovers.
“We had some scoring consistency tonight and that’s something we’ve been working on since last year,” Kirkpatrick-Thornton said. “We just need to tighten up a few things here and there.”
Danielle Hubenak had 13 points and Abby Dietert and Ali Marzella added 11 apiece for Trinity.
edrennan@temple-telegram.com
