March 12, 2006

Final Stats

TACOMA, Wash. - Hardin-Simmons' women's basketball team used a stifling defense to shut down National Player of the Year Megan Silva en route to a 72-56 win over Randolph-Macon to advance to the Final Four of the Division III Women's Basketball Championship.

Silva, who started the game 4-for-5, went just 3-for-18 the rest of the way as Lyssa Dennard put the clamps down and the Cowgirls received enough offense to secure the win. Rachel Cisneroz was huge for the Cowgirls as she hit five 3-pointers and scored 17 points and hauled down 10 rebounds. Both numbers were career highs for the sophomore point guard.

"Our girls came out focused on defense," said HSU coach Shanna Briggs. "We knew we had to contain Silva, because she is a great player and we did for the most part. Lyssa did a great job and when she needed help it was there. It shows what hard work can do for you and the last two weeks our girls have refocused and they are being rewarded."

Junior forward Sonya West had 14 points and 18 rebounds for the Cowgirls and was especially effective late in the game as she scored 12 points down the stretch. Dennard chipped in 13 points, but her key was shutting down Silva.

The Cowgirls led 12-11 at the 12:25 mark of the first half, and then went on a 12-3 run to make it 24-14 with 7:09 to play in the first half. RMC made a run to cut it to 26-20 and then the Cowgirls scored 10 straight points to lead 36-20 with 1:21 to play in the half. Cisneroz and Rachael Singletary had 3-pointers in the run. RMC scored the final six points of the first half and it was 36-26 at the break.

Randolph-Macon came roaring back in the second half. Michelle Orton scored 10 points in a run that extended to 22-5 from the end of the first half to the 14:04 mark of the second half when Rancolph-Macon regained the lead at 42-41.

Cisneroz came back and drained a 3-pointer and the Cowgirls led 44-42 with 12:58 to play and they never relinquished the lead. Sonya West scored 10 of the Cowgirls next 12 points and HSU pushed the lead for the rest of the game.

"They were leaving me open and I have a lot of confidence in my shot," said Cisneroz. "It is so great. We are going to the Final Four!"

Silva led RMC with 19 points and Orton led with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

HSU hit eight 3-pointers in the game and shot 22-of-28 at the free throw line. It was the defense that limited the Yellow Jackets to 31.9 percent for the game.

The Cowgirls (24-5) advance to the Final Four for the first time in school history, after two previous trips to the Elite Eight. Randolph-Macon closes its season with a 28-3 record.

HSU will play Southern Maine on Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. in Springfield, Mass.