Cowgirls Advance To ASC Final With 111-78 Win Over LeTourneau

Feb. 28, 2003

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' women's basketball played its first game after being named the No. 1 team in the nation this week and they played like it in an 111-78 win over LeTourneau in the semifinals of the American Southwest Conference Tournament in front of 2,177 fans at a rowdy Mabee Complex on Friday night.

It was a balanced effort for the Cowgirls, who jumped out to a 29-6 lead at the 11:53 mark of the first half and never looked back. Diana Martinez hit 3 3-pointers and Lauren Harris had a pair in the early game knockout. Kendra Anderson scored on the Cowgirls first two possessions and had six points before going to the bench just four minutes into the game with two fouls.

HSU hit on 6-of-10 triples in the first half and took a 60-30 advantage into the halftime break. The Cowgirls continued to roll in the second half and Lauren Harris was the only Cowgirl to play over 20 minutes, with 24.

Anderson had her average night with 19 points and nine rebounds in just 17 minutes of work. Martinez tied her career-high with 16 points and added five assists and she shot 4-for-4 from 3-point range. Harris broke out of a mini-shooting slump with 14 points. Terri Robinson had 15 points and KraTaura Buckner added 10.

All 14 Cowgirls scored in the game and freshman Leigh Ann Neal gave the raucous crowd a lift when she hit a 3-pointer from the right wing to give the Cowgirls 100 points. The 111 points set the Cowgirls season-high.

With the win the Cowgirls improved to 25-0 and the senior class improved to 100-10 in their careers. LeTourneau ends its season at 111-78. Katrina Davidson led the Jackets with 26 points. HSU has won 11 straight games in the ASC Tournament and 37 in a row at the Mabee Complex.

HSU will be looking for their sixth straight American Southwest Conference title and fifth straight ASC Tournament crown on Saturday night at 6 p.m. against Mississippi College, who was a 73-65 winner over Mary Hardin-Baylor in the first game of the night. HSU beat the Choctaws 75-56 on Jan. 11 at the Mabee Complex.