ABILENE, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' Cowgirl basketball team won 65-59 against the Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders on Tuesday night at the Mabee Athletic Complex to improve to 4-1 in the American Southwest Conference heading into the final weekend of the season.
 
The Cowgirls had a battle in the opening quarter with ten lead changes in the first ten minutes, trailing 19-16. HSU and UMHB were tied at 28-28 after the second quarter and into halftime.
 
A big third quarter from the Cowgirls outscored the Crusaders 21-12 to lead 49-40 at the start of the fourth quarter.
 
HSU did not hit many 3-pointers in the game but made all three attempts to finish the third quarter on a 9-0 run, with two makes from Caroline Croft and one from Dylan Koele at the last second.
 
Hardin-Simmons got up by as many as ten points in the final quarter to finish the win 65-59 on Tuesday.
 
Jacqueline Berry put in work on the stat sheet on both ends of the court with 20 points and a career-high 16 rebounds in the double-double. She added two blocks, a steal, and three assists in the big win for the Cowgirls.
 
Caroline Croft scored 12 points and had a career-high eight assists in the game for Hardin-Simmons at point guard.
 
The Cowgirls are in the catbird seat and control their own destiny heading into the American Southwest Conference championship tournament next week. HSU is in first place in the standing at 4-1 in the league with the final game at East Texas Baptist on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. in Marshall, Texas.
 
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