ABILENE, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' Cowgirl basketball team advanced to the NCAA Championship Tournament second round after a 65-53 win over the Occidental Tigers on Friday night at the Mabee Athletic Complex.
 
The Cowgirls won the ASC Championship last week for the ticket into the NCAA Tournament and began hosting the regional round on Friday with a win. HSU will face the Trinity Tigers on Saturday at 8 p.m.
 
The Cowgirls got out to a 36-24 lead over Oxy at the half and took control in the third quarter, outscoring the opponent 20-12 to make it 56-36 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Hardin-Simmons would go on to win 65-53 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Cowgirls held the lead for the entire game against Oxy and shot 43 percent while holding the Tigers to 30 percent. Both teams had 41 rebounds in the game.
 
Samantha Tatum and Paris Kiser each had 16 points and four rebounds each in the win for the Cowgirls.
 
Parris Parmer scored ten in the win and had six boards and three assists. Savannah Bennett had a career day on the glass with 15 rebounds matched up with a 6-5 ft. Tiger. She also scored eight points and had two blocks.
 
Anna Fanelli led the team with four assists and got a pair of steals for the Cowgirl defense.
 
The Cowgirls improve to 25-3 on the season and move on to the round of 32 in the NCAA Championship Tournament tomorrow night against the Trinity Tigers at 8 p.m. in the Mabee Athletic Complex.  
 
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