Cowgirls Move To ASC Finals

Boxscore

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' women's basketball team advanced to the American Southwest Conference Championship game with a 64-48 win over Mary Hardin-Baylor, Saturday afternoon at McMurry's Kimbrell Arena.

The Cowgirls jumped out to an early 14-7 lead and led most of the first half until UMHB tied it at 26-26 right before halftime. The teams went back and forth and UMHB led 38-37 with 11:51 to play.

HSU then scored 12 straight points over the next 4:17 to give HSU a 48-38 lead with 7:20 to play. In the run Lindsey Newcombe scored five points and Kristen Harris had four along with a Kenzie Tarpley jumper in the paint, UMHB missed 11 straight shots during the run.

HSU's defense has been stellar in the two games of the tournament as both opponents have shot just 28 percent.

Newcombe led the Cowgirls with 21 points and she broke her own school record with 23 rebounds Brawner chipped in with 18 points. Landie Thompson and Jenny Black each had 11 points to pace Mary Hardin-Baylor.

The Cowgirls are 22-5 on the season and will play Howard Payne for the third time this season in the final. Howard Payne beat McMurry 53-51 in the other semifinal. HSU has won six ASC titles in school history and it will be looking for its first since 2004.