Boxscore

ABILENE, Texas — Hardin-Simmons' women's basketball team swept the season series from rival Howard Payne with a 90-78 win on Thursday evening in American Southwest Conference action at the Mabee Complex.

Howard Payne came out and took an early 27-19 lead with 9:07 to play, but as the Cowgirls did in the first meeting in Brownwood, HSU closed the first half strong. HSU went on a 10-0 run to take a 29-27 lead. Alexis Popelar had the first five points of the run with a 3-pointer and a jumper in the lane.

The Cowgirls eventually took a 45-43 lead in the halftime locker room, despite a 20-point first half from Brittany Zamora of the Lady Jackets.

In the second half, the Cowgirls opened strong and eventually worked the lead to 61-52 with 15:06 to play. Howard Payne was able to cut it three on two different occasions, the last being 68-65 with 7:44 to play.

After that the Cowgirls went on an 8-0 run on shots by four different players to push the lead to 11 with 3:27 to play. The Cowgirls led 90-73 with :12 to play before Zamora scored five quick points to end the game.

The Cowgirls had five players in double figures, led by Alexis Popelar with 19 points. Becky Taylor had 17 points and 11 rebounds and Lindsey Newcombe had 14 points and 15 rebounds. Bo Warm had 14 points, all in the second half and Jasmine Lewis added 11 points.

Zamora finished the game with 35 points for HPU and Elaine Hobbs had 12 points.

The win keeps the Cowgirls in the hunt for an ASC playoff berth. The Cowgirls are one game behind fourth-place Texas Lutheran after the Lady Bulldogs lost to Mary Hardin-Baylor on Thursday night. The Cowgirls control their own destiny to get into the playoffs. HSU plays the two bottom teams in the ASC West standings, before closing the season with TLU at home.

HSU is now 12-10 on the year and 10-8 in ASC West play. Howard Payne fell to 17-5 on the year and 13-5 in league play.

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