JACKSON, Miss. – Natalie Velardez tied her career-high with 17 points and registered her third double-double of the season as the Concordia Texas women's basketball team held off a late Belhaven comeback for 59-54 win.

The Tornados, who split their first homestand of the New Year that included a win over Howard Payne last week, traveled East to take on the Blazers.

Concordia Texas led for the majority of the night, holding a 13-point advantage at one point late in the second quarter, but BU battled back, closing the gap down to 43-42 heading into the final period.

The teams exchanged the lead in the fourth till Erin Toro's layup with 4:55 left, gave the Tornados the lead for good at 52-50. Toro finished with eight points, including six in the first half, along with five rebounds.

Havyn Perez followed with a layup on the fast break and Velardez scored the final five points, securing the Tornados' second win in their last three games with a 59-54 victory.

Velardez finished with 17 points, tying her career-high output back on Dec. 30, 2019, along with 13 rebounds, including five on the offensive end. Perez, meanwhile, also finished in double figures, scoring seven of her 10 points in the fourth quarter.

Concordia Texas had a strong start to the contest, shooting 50% from the field in the opening quarter and outscored the Blazers 20-14.

The Tornados stretched their lead to double-digits in the following quarter thanks to a 12-2 run late that was capped off by a Mikyala Johnson 3-pointer. Concordia Texas headed into the locker room with a 35-25 advantage, before BU began to chip away in the second half.

Next, the Tornados will stay on the road, traveling to Marshall, Texas for a conference matchup against East Texas Baptist on Saturday at 1 p.m.