Postgame Press Conference 

MARSHALL, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' women's basketball team kept overcoming obstacles and found a way to beat East Texas Baptist 56-55 on Friday night in Marshall to advance to the American Southwest Conference Championship.

Both teams felt each other out in the first half and ETBU finally took advantage with an 8-0 run to open a 24-16 lead with 3:19 to play in the half. HSU cut the deficit to 28-24 but lost junior point guard Brittany Schnabel to injury for the rest of the game.

ETBU opened a 34-26 lead early in the third quarter, but the Cowgirls had the run this time. HSU scored 11 straight points and took their largest lead of the night at 37-34 on a pair of Samantha Tatum free throws. ETBU again surged and closed the quarter on a 12-5 run.

The Cowgirls trailed 46-42, going into the fourth quarter but the defense stood strong limiting the Tigers to 2-of-13 shooting in the final frame.

Taylor Singleton hit a free throw and missed the second with :34 to play but the Tigers controlled the rebound and Mallory Stephens was fouled and hit both free throws for a 55-52 lead with :32 to play.

Kylie Ellsworth, who had replaced Schnabel at point guard, was also injured with :32 to play forcing the Cowgirls to play the final :32 without a true point guard.

Singleton then blocked a Parris Parmer 3-pointer out of bounds and the Cowgirls went back to Parmer who was fouled shooting a 3-pointer and she buried all three free throws with :21 to play to tie the game. The defense then came up with a stop on a Mallory Stephens miss and Hallie Edmondson was fouled on the rebound. She hit one of two free throws to give the Cowgirls a 56-55 lead with :07 to play.

ETBU had one last chance and Singleton got a look at the basket but it crawled out and the Cowgirls celebrated a hard-earned win on the Tigers home court.  

Kiki Gonzales led four Cowgirls in double figures with 15 points. Parmer scored 13 points and Samantha Tatum and Ellsworth added 10 points each.

Singleton led the Tigers with 11 points and Bridget Upton scored 10.

The Cowgirls shot just 29.6 percent in the game and were outrebounded 45-31. The Cowgirls played tough defense all night and held the Tigers to 1-for-16 from 3-point range.

HSU is now 20-4 on the year and East Texas Baptist fell to 20-5. The Cowgirls will play UT Dallas for the conference title at 6 p.m. on Saturday in Marshall. HSU is looking for its seventh ASC Tournament title and first since 2004.  

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