Feb. 19, 2005

Final Stats

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' women's basketball team won its seventh straight American Southwest Conference West Division title and clinched the right to host the ASC Tournament next weekend with a 66-55 win over Mary Hardin-Baylor, Saturday afternoon at the Mabee Complex.

The Cowgirls trailed 44-41 at the 9:29 mark, but Diana Martinez hit a 3-pointer to tie the game and proceeded to score 12 straight points to give HSU a 53-50 lead at the 4:40 mark. Blair Heitmiller's free throws made the score HSU 56-55 with 2:02 to play.

On the Cowgirls next possession, the game changed as Lyssa Dennard hit a 3-pointer as Martinez was being ran over while trying to set a screen. Dennard's 3-pointer counted and Martinez hit both free throws to make it 61-55. UMHB would not score the final 2:02 of the game.

The loss knocked Mary Hardin-Baylor out of the ASC Tournament as Concordia-Austin defeated McMurry in Abilene. HSU earned the right to host as Texas Lutheran beat Howard Payne in Seguin to give the Cowgirls a one-game lead. HPU had the tiebreaker if they had won the game. In other ASC action, Schreiner defeated Sul Ross State for its first win since January of 2002.

HSU improved to 21-3 and finished the year 19-3 in league play. UMHB fell to 16-9 overall and 14-8 in conference play. HSU will play East Texas Baptist at 6 p.m. on Friday at the Mabee Complex.