Denton, Texas – In the first game of the season and the first game of the Alesha Ellis era, the Belles showed fight against MSU Denver, battling back and forth with the Roadrunners for three quarters before the RMAC pulled away with a 21-10 fourth quarter.  

Despite an early double-digit deficit, the Belles kept within distance, even tying the game in the third quarter.  

The Belles only shot 28.6 percent from the field for the game but did outrebound their opponents on the offensive glass, with 11 offensive rebounds in the game to their opponent's nine.  

The Belles' offense was led by newcomer Payton Brown, who scored a game-high 22 points in 38 minutes of action in her debut for Angelo State.  

Returners from last year's team, Madeline Stephens and Sawyer Lloyd, scored eight and six points for the Belles, with Stephens grabbing a team-high seven rebounds.  

Tayjanna McGhee-Pleasant, Blakely Gerber and Samantha Rocha all scored three points; Linsey Marchese scored two points in her debut.  

The Belles finish off their opening weekend tomorrow against Western Colorado. The game is set to tip off at 2 p.m.