Feb. 24, 2006

Final Stats

CLINTON, Miss. - Hardin-Simmons' women's basketball team dropped a first round game in the American Southwest Conference Tournament, falling 83-80 to East Texas Baptist at the A.E. Wood Coliseum in Clinton, Miss.

The two teams went back and forth the entire first half with the Cowgirls having the biggest lead of the half at six points. Sade' Stewart had a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to tie the game at 47.

After trading baskets for much of the first of the second half the Cowgirls went on a 10-0 run to take their biggest lead of the game at 66-57 with 11:03 to go in the game. ETBU answered that run with a 15-3 run of their own to take a 72-69 lead with 5:17 to play.

Melissa Henley tied the game at 76 with 3:09 to play. The teams traded points until a Marzetta Shepard free throw gave ETBU a 81-79 lead with 1:00 to play. Shanika Conaway split a pair of free throws with :48 to play and Reneida Moody made the final shot of the game with :26 to play for ETBU. It came after the Cowgirls had nearly come away with a steal, but a loose ball ended up in Moody's hand.

The Cowgirls had three 3-point attempts in the final :10 of the game but could not find the net.

Lyssa Dennard and Henley led the Cowgirls with 15 points each. Sonya West had 15 points, Jamie Jones and Lindsay Thompson had 11 points each. Sheppard led the Lady Tigers with 21 points and Sade' Stewart added 20.

The Cowgirls fell to 20-5 on the year and will have to await word from the NCAA Selection Committee to see if their season will continue. The selections will be announced on Monday morning. East Texas Baptist improved to 18-8 on the year and will face McMurry in the semifinals on Saturday.