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POSTGAME INTERVIEW WITH MADI HESS

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Belton, Texas – Madi Hess scored a career-high 17 points in leading the Concordia University Texas women's basketball team to a 79-74 victory over Mary Hardin-Baylor on Tuesday, Jan. 8 at the Mayborn Campus Center. The Tornados won their fourth consecutive game, including their third on the road, to move into sole possession of second place in the American Southwest Conference West Division standings.

Concordia used a balanced attack and suffocating defense to take an early 9-0 advantage. DJ Vallier, Paige Parrish, Tyler Compton and Katherine Frost all hit field goals and Domonique Liddell sank a free throw before the Crusaders, who missed their first nine shots of the ballgame, got on the board courtesy of a Samara Williams jumper at the 13:52 mark. The basket, however, sparked 9-2 Crusader run over the next five minutes. Taylor Tucker drove in for a basket to tie the game at 11s just past the midway point.

But Concordia would never surrender the lead at any point of the frame. Brianna Smith broke the tie by swishing a pair of 3-point attempts to put her team ahead by a 17-11 score. The Tornado lead grew to nine twice before Tucker made two free throws with .2 seconds left to make it 34-27 at the recess.

Mary Hardin-Baylor (2-11, ASC 1-7) threatened to take its first lead of the ballgame by scoring the first six points of the second half to close the gap to one, but Concordia responded with 10 unanswered to go ahead by double figures for the first time. Parrish began the stretch with a running jumper and ended it by setting up a Smith 3-point field goal that gave the Tornados a 44-33 cushion with 14:40 to play.

The Crusaders attempted to rally and came as close as four on a Samara Williams free throw, but the Tornados shook it off and extended their lead back up to double digits. Casey Wallace assisted on a Briona Chatmon jumper to five Concordia a 56-45 advantage at the midway point and later made a layup following a steal in the backcourt to make it 60-47 with 9:35 on the clock.

Mary Hardin-Baylor came within three on a long jumper by Tucket, but Hess hit a three from the top of the key, made a steal in the backcourt and set up a Wallace layup to give the Tornados five quick points and a 67-59 cushion to work with the rest of the way. After Parrish made a free throw, Macy Moore drained a three at the buzzer to seal the final outcome.

Hess shot a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor, including 1-for-1 from long range, as well as 6-for-7 from the line to lead Concordia, which forced the host school to commit 34 turnovers. She also finished with four steals and two assists. Parrish just missed a double-double with nine points and eight boards to go along with five assists, while Williams contributed 10 points and five boards.

Mary Hardin-Baylor was paced by Tucker and Williams. Tucker posted 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Williams recorded 12 points and three steals. Miles also had a strong all-around performance by registering six points, 10 rebounds and five steals.

Concordia (8-6, ASC 5-3) hosts Hardin-Simmons in a pivotal ASC West Division matchup on Thursday, Jan. 10 at 5:30 p.m.