Cowgirls Hold Off Texas Lutheran

Feb. 3, 2005

SEGUIN, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' women's basketball team held off an upset-minded Texas Lutheran team, winning 74-68 in American Southwest Conference action at Memorial Gym in Seguin on Thursday night.

The Cowgirls led by as many as 13 in the first half, but the Bulldogs battled back and kept the game in single digits for most of the second half, cutting their deficit to as little as six points. The Cowgirls were hampered by foul problems most of the game. Leading scorer Melissa Henley played just 16 minutes before fouling out and Lyssa Dennard and Shelby Hodges also were disqualified by fouls.

Texas Lutheran hit 16-of-17 free throws in the second half to keep the game in striking range. Diana Martinez led the Cowgirls with a season-best 22 points. She had 12 in the first half and was held scoreless for the first 15:40 of the second half before hitting back-to-back 3-pointers to push the lead out.

Dennard and Hodges had 10 points each for the Cowgirls. Courtney Ard was one of four TLU players in double figures with a team-best 17 points.

The Cowgirls improved to 17-2 with the win and are now 15-2 in league play. Texas Lutheran fell to 7-13 overall and 7-10 in ASC action. HSU plays at Schreiner on Saturday at 1 p.m.