MARSHALL, Texas – The East Texas Baptist University women’s basketball team won the 2025 American Southwest Conference Women’s Basketball Championship with a 78-67 win over Hardin-Simmons Saturday evening in Marshall.

East Texas Baptist opened the contest on a 10-1 run. Hardin-Simmons responded with a 10-2 run to close the gap to one at the 4:11 mark. The Tigers closed the quarter with a trio of baskets to extend the lead to 19-13. The Tigers continued to pull away in the second quarter outscoring the Cowgirls 18-4 through the first seven minutes. ETBU continued the tempo, closing the half ahead 42-24.

The Cowgirls chipped away with a 10-3 run to start the second half. Hardin-Simmons cut the margin to 10 at the 1:50 mark with a 10-5 run led by Jacqueline Berry with seven. A final pair of baskets on each end to finish the third 58-47. The fourth quarter went basket-for-basket with each team scoring 20. Payton Hicks led the way for ETBU in the frame with seven points while four Cowgirls each recorded four points. The Tigers held their lead through the second half to earn a 78-67 victory.

HSU’s Jacqueline Berry led the game with a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds. ETBU’s Madison Hurta scored 18 points while Tiffany Bickford totaled 15 and Payton Hicks scored 14. Kadia Ward totaled nine rebounds, three blocks and three steals for the Tigers.

East Texas Baptist earned the ASC Automatic Qualifier to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. The selection show will take place on Monday, March 3^rd at 1:30 pm on NCAA.com.

2025 ASC Women’s Basketball All-Tournament Team
MVP - Payton Hicks, ETBU
Tiffany Bickford, ETBU
Madison Hurta, ETBU
Jacqueline Berry, HSU
Aiken Semones, HSU
Jaycie Brisco, UMHB
Makenzie Covey, LETU