Jan. 4, 2006

ABILENE, Texas -

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Hardin-Simmons looks to continue its good play it had on New Year's Eve against Texas Wesleyan...The Cowgirls lost two of its last three games before the break and it marked the first time since 2001 season that the Cowgirls lost two games in a week. The two losses also knocked the Cowgirls out of the national rankings for the first time since that 2001 season. The 85 week run in the poll was the third longest streak in the nation in that time. Only Washington (Mo.) and Scranton had been in the polls during the entire Cowgirls run in the poll. HSU did not drop far out of the poll as they received enough votes to be 26th in the poll and a pair of wins this week would likely vault them back into the rankings...The Cowgirls have received a balanced attack offensively and four players average in double figures... HSU has also been getting better play from its bench...The Cowgirls do not have a senior on the roster and start four juniors and a sophomore, making them one of the younger teams in the ASC by age, but four of the starters have played significant minutes from day one on the college level, giving them plenty of game experience...The key to the Cowgirls success has been simple -- rebounding. The Cowgirls are 7-0 when they outrebound an opponent and are 0-2 when they have been outrebounded. Ozarks is one of the better rebounding teams in the conference. Ozarks has consistently been one of the top teams in the ASC East and after a couple of down seasons, seem to be right back at the top of the East...Austin College is in its final season in the ASC.