March 2, 2006

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons will play cross-town rival McMurry in the third edition of what has been called the best rivalry in Division III women's basketball by a national publication. It is the second time the two teams have met in the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the game will face the winner of the Howard Payne/Trinity game on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Kimbrell Arena.

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The Tip Hardin-Simmons is back in the NCAA Playoffs for the seventh time in eight seasons, after not advancing last season...The Cowgirls have reached the Sweet 16 of every NCAA Tournament they have played, including two trips to the Elite Eight...The Cowgirls were a minute away from the Final Four in their last NCAA Tournament game, losing at Wisconsin-Stevens Point 72-67 in 2004, after the game was tied with 1:17 to play...HSU was a surprise Pool C entry into the field, but gets a second chance after falling in the first round of the ASC Tournament. They also get to sleep in their own bed and are playing a team they have already beaten once this season. HSU defeated McMurry 63-54 in the Mabee Complex on Jan. 30. McMurry won the teams' first meeting, 73-65 at Kimbrell Arena...Although the playoffs are nothing new to the Cowgirls, only one player on the team has ever started an NCAA Tournament game, with Melissa Henley recording three starts in 2004...Only one time in the Cowgirls run in the NCAA Tournament have they played a close game in their first game of the tournament. Lauren Harris beat Guilford 71-70 in 2002 with a shot on the right baseline with two seconds to play...HSU won the only previous meeting between HSU and McMurry in the playoffs, a 61-60 thriller in 2000 at the Mabee Complex...The Cowgirls have lost three of their last four games, since losing starting point guard Sarah Haul to a knee injury. Before that, the Cowgirls had won 13 straight games...The Cowgirls have won 20 games for the eighth straight season, it is the second longest 20-wins season streak in the nation, behind Washington University's nine straight...HSU is 2-2 against teams in the sub-sectional, splitting with both McMurry and Howard Payne...Those three teams have been close for the last three years in the ASC West with all three winning an ASC title in that time frame.