March 17, 2006

Final Stats

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Hardin-Simmons' women's basketball run toward a national title in the national semifinals with a 74-65 loss to No. 1 Southern Maine, at a sold out Blake Arena on the campus of Springfield College.

Hardin-Simmons will play in the third place game at 11:30 CST on Saturday against the loser of the Hope/Scranton game. HSU fell to 24-6 with the loss. Southern Maine improved to 32-1 and will look for its first title in five trips to the Final Four.

"We had a great run and we came up short, but our girls gave everything they had to fight back and make it a game," said HSU head coach Shanna Briggs. "We didn't play our best in the first half, but we battled back. We showed the heart we have played with in the tournament and even before that. Southern Maine is a great team. I am just so proud of the effort of my team."

The Cowgirls, who trailed 45-27 with 16:28 to play, cut the deficit to two points at 55-53 with 7:31 to play on a Rachel Cisneroz' 3-pointer. The shot capped a 26-10 run. Lindsay Thompson came off the bench to score all 10 of her points in the run.

"We told our team at halftime they would make a run and they did," said Southern Maine Head Coach Gary Fifield. "It got closer than we wanted going from 18-2, but they battled us. We we're able to keep our composure down the stretch."

HSU did not have an answer or Megan Myles down the stretch for Southern Maine. Lyssa Dennard's put back at the 1:36 made the game 66-62. HSU looked to have a stop when Southern Maine was forced to shoot a contested 3-pointer, but Donna Cowing ran down her miss in the corner and USM was able to run the shot clock down again.

This time the Cowgirls trapped and USM spread the floor and was able to find Myles, who knocked down a 3-pointer from the left wing to give USM a 69-62 lead with :43 to play and ultimately the game.

"She stepped up big and hit the shot," said Briggs. "You do not get to this point without players hitting big shots."

Myles had 10 points down the stretch and All-American Ashley Marble had a huge 3-pointer after the Cowgirls had shut her down for the most part in the second half. Marble had 13 points in the first half and finished with 22 points and 17 rebounds. Myles had 23 points and 10 rebounds.

USM took control of the game in the early going with back-to-back 3-pointers to make it 20-11 at 12:46 to go in the first half.

Sonya West had 13 points and 11 rebounds to pace the Cowgirls. Melissa Henley added 11 points and Thompson and Cisneroz added 10.