ALPINE, Texas – The Belhaven University women's basketball team were downed by Sul Ross State University, 77-73, on Saturday afternoon in American Southwest Conference play.

The Blazers and Lobos exchanged buckets throughout the first quarter of play, but Sul Ross led 19-15 going into the second quarter of action. Belhaven tied the contest up at 27 after Peyton Papenburg hit a jumper in the paint with 3:24 remaining in the second quarter. The Blazers trailed 40-38 going into the halftime break.

Coming out of the break, the Blazers struggled to make buckets as the Lobos outshot the Blazers 19-8 in the third quarter to make the score 58-47. The Lobos extended their lead to 64-48, but the Blazers continued to fight and cut the deficit to two points with 45 seconds remaining in regulation. Belhaven could not complete the late rally and would eventually fall to the Lobos 77-73.

Keke Lyles led the Blazers with 19 points and shot 50 percent from behind the arc, while Peyton Papenburg finished the contest with 18 points and shot 75 percent from the free throw line. Madison Klein drilled three shots from behind the arc to give her nine points in the game. As a team, the Blazers had 13 fast break points and 22 points from the bench.

The Blazers return to the court on Thursday, January 9^th against the University of Mary Hardin Baylor Cru to open ASC home play. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.

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