ABILENE, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' women's basketball team claimed the outright American Southwest Conference regular-season title with a 65-52 win at East Texas Baptist at Ornelas Gym in Marshall on Saturday.
 
The Cowgirls' defense suffocated the Tigers throughout the contest, limiting ETBU to 17-of-53 from the field for 32.1 percent and just 4-of-21 from 3-point range for 19 percent.
 
HSU used an early 11-2 run in the first quarter to take a 13-4 lead with 4:11 to play in the frame and never trailed after that. The Cowgirls received 3-pointers from Abbie Crow, Dylan Koele and Caroline Croft in the run. HSU pushed the lead out 18-9 at the end of the first quarter and led 30-20 at halftime.
 
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Dylan Koele gave the Cowgirls their biggest lead of the game at 60-38 with 6:44 to play.
 
Senior Angie Sacco led the Cowgirls' balanced attack with a career-best 12 points. Koele added 11 points and Croft had nine points, eight rebounds and four assists.
 
Hannah Ayala led the Tigers with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
 
The Cowgirls finish the regular season at 20-5 overall and 5-1 in ASC play. The Cowgirls will host the ASC tournament beginning on Friday afternoon. ETBU fell to 16-8 overall and to 2-4 in conference play.
 
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