Brawner Scores 28 As Cowgirls Stop Howard Payne

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ABILENE, Texas -- Mollie Brawner scored a career-best 28 points as Hardin-Simmons’ women’s basketball team defeated Howard Payne 77-70 in American Southwest Conference action at the Mabee Complex.

The Cowgirls jumped out to a 34-14 lead in the first 12 minutes of the game and. In that stretch the Cowgirls hit six 3-pointers (four by Brawner and two by Bo Warm). Lindsey Newcombe also had 10 points in the opening surge.

Howard Payne then came out of its traditional 2-3 zone defense and it allowed them to chip the lead down to 12 points, but HSU then scored seven straight including a 3-pointer each by Brawner and Haylee Allen to make it 43-24 with :47 to play in the first half.

In the second half, the Lady Jackets showed their national championship resolve from a year ago as the battled the deficit down to 62-59 with 6:15 to play on an Elaine Hobbs lay-up. It capped a 26-11 run through the middle of the second half.

However, the Cowgirls were the one with the finishing kick as Allen scored five straight for the Cowgirls and then Brawner hit a fade-away jumper to push the lead to 69-59. HPU cut it back to 69-64 with 1:48 to play, but Brawner was big again as she nailed her seventh 3-pointer of the night with 1:33 to play to make it 72-64.

Allen had 20 points and Lindsey Newcombe had 16 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks in the game for the Cowgirls. Elaine Hobbs had 17 points and Sarah Jockers had 15 for Howard Payne.

HSU shot 10-for-16 in the game from 3-point range, including 8-for-11 in the first half. HSU shot 54.2 percent for the game and Howard Payne was limited to 39.7 percent. HPU shot 20 more shots than the Cowgirls in the game.

With the win the Cowgirls improved to 12-3 overall and 8-3 in ASC play. HSU jumped ahead of the Lady Jackets in the ASC standings to second place as HPU fell to 12-4 overall and 8-4 in league play. HSU hosts winless Sul Ross State on Saturday at the Mabee Complex.