ABILENE, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' Cowgirl basketball team won big 84-52 against Howard Payne and improved to 3-0 in American Southwest Conference play Wednesday night sinking 15 three-point shots in the game.
 
The Cowgirls were a little behind the team record 19-made 3-pointers in a game, which has happened twice, against McMurry in 2023 and Concordia in 2024. HSU shot 15-of-29 from deep against Howard Payne for 51 percent.
 
Hardin-Simmons led 40-28 at the half and pulled away steadily in the second with quarters of 20-11 and 24-13. The Cowgirl defense finished with nine blocks, which is three shy of the team record 12 blocks in a game.
 
Avery Cathey scored a career-high 17 points as a freshman with five 3-pointers. Abbie Crow also made five 3-pointers with 15 points. Fellow freshman Tayley Bullen had 11 points powered by three 3-pointers for Hardin-Simmons. Dylan Koele and Kiah Buchanan also got in on the long-range Cowgirl shooting party on Wednesday night.
 
The Cowgirls had 21 assists in the good shooting night, led by Caroline Croft with a career-high seven assists. Jacqueline Berry had four assists with eight points, and both Nilaya Gordon and Bullen had three assists apiece.
 
The Cowgirls got win number 17 and are now 3-0 in the American Southwest Conference and will make the return trip to Howard Payne on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Brownwood Coliseum.
 
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