Hot Start Powers Lady Eagles to Victory Over Bryan

DAYTON, Tenn. (12/31/25) – Propelled by a dominant first quarter, the Williams Baptist University women's basketball team handed Bryan its first home loss of the season by the final score of 77-71 inside Summers Gymnasium on Wednesday afternoon.

Cha'Myrean Ellis led the team with her second-straight 25-point performance.  Sara Crowe and Chelsea Hamilton followed up with 16 points each.

As a unit, WBU went 32-for-59 (54.2 percent) from the field while holding Bryan to just 27-of-74 (36.5 percent) shooting on the day.  The Lions won the rebound battle 34-32, but Williams dominated the paint, scoring 54 points down low.  The Lady Eagles never trailed in the contest. 

Sara Crowe kicked off the scoring with a layup to spark a 16-0 game-opening run in the first quarter.  Williams did not allow a bucket from the Lions until 4:15 remaining in the first quarter.

Chelsea Hamilton was true from three for her first four attempts of the game.  The Lady Eagles went 10-for-17 (58.8 percent) from the field in the first 10 minutes of the game, while holding Bryan to just 27.8 percent shooting to take a 25-14 lead at the end of the first.

The two teams traded buckets in the second quarter, and Williams carried a 42-32 advantage into the halftime break.

A three-point play from Ellis kicked off a seven-point swing to begin the third quarter that put WBU ahead 49-32, then carried the momentum through the end of the third to go into the fourth quarter ahead 65-51.

Bryan made up some ground in the fourth, out-scoring the Eagles 20-12 in the final 10 minutes.  The Lions cut the lead to six with a three-pointer with 3:14 to go, but Hamilton responded with a jumper on the other end to extend the Eagle lead back to eight.  WBU was able to quench the comeback bid in the final minutes to hand Bryan its first loss at home of the season.

The win moves the Lady Eagles to 7-3 overall on the year.  The team's fifth road win is the most before New Year's Day in modern program history.

WBU will return to the court at home against Crowley's Ridge on Tuesday, Jan. 6 in American Midwest Conference action.  Tipoff against the Pioneers is set for 5:30 p.m. from inside the Southerland-Mabee Center.