ABILENE, Texas - The Hardin-Simmons' Cowgirl basketball team won their ninth American Southwest Conference women's basketball tournament championship on Saturday, winning 73-46 against Howard Payne at the Mabee Athletic Complex.
 
Cowgirl head coach Kendra Whitehead led her team to a record of 22-5 on the year with the win after finishing the regular season 5-1 in the conference as the number one overall seed. Coach Whitehead has now won three ASC championships with the Cowgirls (2022, 2024, 2026) and coached the team to four NCAA Tournament appearances.
 
Hardin-Simmons took the lead after the first quarter and had a dominant second quarter, outscoring Howard Payne 24-6 in ten minutes to lead 43-19 at halftime of the championship.
 
HSU shot 9-for-17 in the second quarter, including 6-for-9 from 3-point range. Dylan Koele made two 3-pointers in the pivotal quarter and finished with 11 points for the Cowgirls.
 
Hardin-Simmons built on the lead, continuing to outscore Howard Payne in the final two quarters to win 73-46 and claim the ASC tournament championship.
 
Jacqueline Berry was named the ASC tournament Most Valuable Player, finishing the ASC championship win with 13 points, ten rebounds, four assists, a block, and two steals for Hardin-Simmons.
 
Senior Abbie Crow was named to the ASC all-tournament team, hitting four 3-pointers in a second straight game, scoring 12 points in the Cowgirl win.
 
Senior Caroline Croft was also named to the ASC all-tournament team. She had six points with five assists in the championship game and defended the top offensive threats well in both ASC tournament games for Hardin-Simmons.
 
The Cowgirls won the ASC championship and earned the automatic bid for the NCAA Tournament next weekend. The NCAA selection show will be on Monday, March 2 at 1:30 p.m. to find out who the Cowgirls will play next week.
 
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