ABILENE, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' Cowgirl basketball team won 73-51 over the Austin College Kangaroos on Friday night at the Mabee Athletic Complex in the first round NCAA championship tournament.
 
The Cowgirls advance to play Whitman College in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Mabee Complex.
 
HSU went up early 10-4 in the first quarter before Lexi Martin hit a trifecta of 3-pointers to pull Austin College back, down 14-12.
 
Hardin-Simmons built the lead, outscoring Austin 15-9 and 17-9 in the second and third quarters. The Cowgirls got a majority of the work done on offense inside with 50 points in the paint in the 73-51 win.
 
The Cowgirls only attempted ten 3-pointers in the contest given the success down low, but Avery Cathey made 3-of-5 three-point shots and scored all 13 of her points in the fourth quarter.
 
MaeSyn Gay and Jacqueline Berry scored 13 points each as well, with Gay accomplishing the feat with just 11 minutes on the floor due to foul trouble.
 
Berry tied Savannah Bennett for the team lead in rebounds with eight. Caroline Croft finished with ten points and continued to lead the Cowgirls with five assists in the NCAA tournament win.
 
Head coach Kendra Whitehead is now 4-3 in NCAA tournament games at Hardin-Simmons and will guide the Cowgirls to the second round of the NCAA championship tournament against the Whitman College Blues on Saturday, March 7 with tip-off set for 8 p.m. central time in the Mabee Complex.
 
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