Cowgirls Fall To McMurry In First-Place Showdown

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ABILENE, Texas -- Hardin-Simmons' women's basketball team lost a hard-fought game to McMurry, 77-71, Monday night in the Kiwanis Club of Abilene Basketball Shootout at Kimbrell Arena.

The loss ended an eight-game winning streak for the Cowgirls and gave McMurry a one-game lead in the American Southwest Conference West Division race with six games left to play. The winner of the West Division hosts the ASC Tournament this season.

Both teams got off to slow starts in the game and it was tied at 15-15 when Lindsey Newcombe picked up her third foul and had to head to the bench with 8:33 to play in the first half. With Newcombe out, McMurry took advantage on the inside and especially on the backboards and pushed the lead out 32-23 at halftime.

McMurry took its biggest lead of the game at 51-36 with 13:03 before the Cowgirls chipped away and cut the deficit to 67-63 with 1:47 to play. The Cowgirls cut it to three at 70-67, but McMurry iced the game with a strong effort at the free throw line down the stretch. McMurry hit 7-of-10 in the final 1:21 at the charity stripe.

Newcombe paced the Cowgirls with 24 points, including 19 in the second half. Bo Warm and Kristen Harris had 10 points each.  Amber Horton led McMurry with 18 points and Anna Berthel added 15.

HSU is now 15-4 on the year and 11-4 in league play. McMurry is also 15-4 and 12-3 in league play. HSU hosts Concordia on Thursday at the Mabee Complex.