Cowgirls Drop Overtime Heartbreaker in ASC Final
ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' women's basketball team dropped an overtime heartbreaker to arch-rival Howard Payne, 72-65, Sunday afternoon at McMurry's Kimbrell Arena.
The game was evenly contested back and forth the entire game as there were 13 ties and 13 lead changes in the contest. Neither team led by more than six points in the first half, and Lindsey Newcombe's putback at the halftime buzzer tied the game at 25.
HSU scored the first basket of the second half and then Howard Payne exploded for 18 straight points to take a 43-27 lead with 14:46 to play on the second of Katy Sarem's 3-pointers in the run.
The Cowgirls then started to chip away at the deficit and HSU used a 13-4 run to cut it to 47-40 with 10:16 to play. After a Stephanie Brewer basket, HSU went on a 10-0 run that was capped by a pair of Mollie Brawner 3-pointers to give HSU a 50-49 lead with 7:28 to play.
In the final 7:28 there were four lead changes and four ties. A pair of Bo Warm free throws gave the Cowgirls a 60-58 lead with 1:11 to play. HSU then got a stop and Bo Warm and Angela Newcombe each missed shots under the basket that appeared to have contact, but no foul was called.
Howard Payne then nearly turned the ball over, but on a scramble for the loose ball with nine seconds to play a foul was called on Kristen Harris and Sarah Jockers, a 61 percent free throw shooter, calmly hit both free throws. HSU had a shot to win it but Bo Warm's jumper came up short to send the game to overtime.
In the overtime, HSU led 65-64 with :48 to play when Mionca Hall got a defensive rebound and drove all the way to the basket and threw up a shot that found the bottom of the net and she was fouled. She hit the free throw to give the Lady Jackets a 67-65 lead.
HSU came right back down the floor and got an open 3-pointer from its top shooter Mollie Brawner but it rimmed out and HPU sealed it at the free throw line. HPU had only one basket in the overtime from the field, but they were 10-of-11 at the free throw line.
Brawner had 18 points in likely her final game as a Cowgirl. She hit four 3-pointers. Newcombe had 17 points and 21 rebounds. Angela Newcombe had 12 points, all in the second half and overtime, off the bench. Brawner and Lindsey Newcombe were named to the all-tournament team.
Howard Payne shot 48 percent in the game and Elaine Hobbs led a balanced effort with 18 points. Hall had 15 points, on 6-of-6 shooting.
HSU (22-6) could still get an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, but it appears unlikely at this point. If they do not get a bid, it is the final game for Brawner and Kristen Harris. HPU (23-5) won its third straight ASC title and earned the right to defend its national championship with a berth into the NCAA Tournament.
