HOUSTON, Texas - Sophomore Shawndrika Courtney's 14 points and 12 rebounds weren'tenough as Texas Wesleyan fell to Houston Baptist, 74-52, Monday evening at Sharp Gymnasium.

     Ball control plagued the Lady Rams as they committed a season-high 34 turnovers. Freshman Stephanie Sewell finished the evening with five points, five rebounds and a game-high 11 assists.

     "We started off the game strong," head coach Stacy Francis said. "We didn't take car of the ball in the second half and stopped playing our game."

     Houston Baptist (5-2, 3-0 RRAC) jumped out to an early six-point lead, 8-2, at the 15:46 mark. The Lady Huskies received four points from Cari Scaff and a bucket each by Sherrill Haddick and Jere' Adams.

     Texas Wesleyan (4-4, 1-1 RRAC) cut the lead to three, 23-20, with 6:08 remaining in the first half, on the strength of eight points by junior LaRhonda Hunter and four points by freshman Shamona Hollingsworth.

     The Lady Huskies came right back, finishing the half on a 14-8 run, to take a 37-28 lead. Houston Baptist was sparked by five points by Haddick during the run.

     In the second half, Houston Baptist increased its lead to 20, using an 18-7 run. The Lady Huskies received seven points by Adams and five points from Velencia Kuykendall to make it, 55-35, with 12:19 left in the game.

     Freshman Lacie Curry's trey at the 7:10 mark would cut the Lady Huskie lead to 14, at 59-45, but that is as close as the Lady Rams would get as Houston Baptist finished with a 15-7 run.

     Texas Wesleyan shot 42 percent (21-50) from the field and 63 percent (5-8) from behind the arc. The Lady Rams shot a dismal 33 percent (5-15) from the free-throw line.

     Houston Baptist also shot 42 percent (29-69) from the field and 44 percent (7-16) from the three-point line. The Lady Huskies also shot 50 percent (9-18) from the charity stripe.

     "We can compete with anyone," Francis said. "We just have to keep our heads in the game. When we are down to a good team, it is tough to come back because we are not experienced enough to get back into the game."

     The Lady Rams will be back in action Saturday, when they host conference-foe UT-Permian Basin. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.