JACKSON, Miss. - The Belhaven women's basketball team defeated ASC foe Howard Payne, 85-62, on Thursday night inside Rugg Arena. 

After a steady first quarter, where the Blazers held to a slim 17-15 advantage, the Lady Jackets went back and forth with the opponents and got the score deadlocked at 24 with 4:10 remaining in the quarter. 

After the score was tied, the Blazers began the late half surge, going on a 14-0 run to end the half and lead, 38-24 at the half. 

Erika Smith started and ended the first half run, with a layup from Samara Dingiswayo. She ended the half with a shot from downtown to put the Blazers (7-5) up 14 at the break. 

The Blazers momentum would follow them into the second half, leaving HPU (8-7) scoreless for over five and half minutes. BU outscored Howard Payne, 25-13, in the third quarter, and extended the lead to as high as 26 points in the second half. 

Sierra Pittman led the Blazers with her fourth 20-point performance of the season with a game-high 23 points. 

Vamikka Smith earned her second double-double in her last three games with 11 points and 10 boards. 

Also with 11 points in the Blazers win was Tajee Harper, who also had six rebounds and three steals. 

Dingiswayo led the rebounding game for the Green and Gold with 11 rebounds to go along with five points and four assists. 

For Howard Payne, Sarahi Castillo led the Lady Jackets with 15 points and nine rebounds. 

As a team, the Blazers shot 45 percent (25-for-55) from the field, including a 14-for-25 (56 percent) mark from the field in the second half. 

On the defensive side of the ball, the Blazers limited the Lady Jackets to a season-low 29 percent (22-for-75) from the field and 3-for-24 (13 percent) from downtown.

Belhaven finished 31-for-37 (84 percent) from the charity stripe, with a 14-for-15 (93 percent) mark in the first half. The 31 made free throws are the third-most in a game in program history. 

The Blazers scored its most points since the 2011-12 season, when they scored 91 points against Blue Mountain (Miss.) on Nov. 5, 2011. This is the first time in the Blazers' NCAA era where they surpassed 80 points in a game. 

Belhaven returns to the floor on Saturday to wrap up its contests against the ASC West when Sul Ross State comes to Jackson. Tip off is slated for 1 p.m.

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