Jan. 22, 2007

Final Stats

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' women's basketball team overcame a 10-point first half deficit and came back to topple American Southwest Conference rival McMurry in American Southwest Conference action at Kimbrell Arena on Monday evening.

Senior Lyssa Dennard had 21 points and eight rebounds and limited McMurry sharpshooter Maigen Sawyer to five points with a strong defensive effort. Dennard was one of four Cowgirls in double figures. Jenni Hobbs had a career-best 19 points, Laci Walker added 18 and Melissa Contrucci had 11 points.

McMurry led by as many as 10 in the first half at 36-26 with 3:23 to play, but the Cowgirls closed with a flurry in the first half and trailed only 40-35. They then scored the first eight points of the second half to take a 43-40 lead.

It was a back and forth affair in the second half until back-to-back 3-pointers by Lyssa Dennard gave HSU a 52-49 lead. The game stayed close and HSU led 60-58, when Sarah Hauk hit a 3-pointer as time was running out on the shot clock with 4:59 to play to give the Cowgirls a 63-58 lead. It was the closest McMurry would be the rest of the game.

HSU led 67-60 when McMurry started fouling to stay in the game. HSU went 10-for-14 in the final 1:35 of the game at the foul line to ice the game.

The Cowgirls executed in the second half to perfection and hit 13 of 23 shots. For the game the Cowgirls hit 52 percent. HSU also frustrated McMurry All-American Tarra Richardson into a 7-for-16 showing. She finished with a hard-fought 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Hardin-Simmons improved to 14-2 with the win and are now tied with McMurry in the ASC West standings with a 12-1 mark. The Cowgirls can move into a tie for first place with a win over Howard Payne on Thursday night at the Mabee Complex. McMurry is 15-2 on the year. Three of McMurry's last four losses have come to the hands of the Cowgirls.