Box Score Las Vegas, N.M. - The Cowgirls opened up their first home game of the 2013-2014 season in front of a great home crowd in the John A. Wilson Complex, with a 83-64 victory over the University of the Southwest.
After the first half of play, both teams were tied up at 23 apiece. Coach Darling was unimpressed with the Cowgirls offensive execution in the first half of play. "We were timid early on the offensive end. This was due partly to playing in front of our home crowd for the first time, but mostly it had to do with the pace we were settling for. We weren't playing down hill in transition; we weren't committed to getting the ball in the paint. We didn't crash the offensive glass like we normally do. We simply weren't attacking."
The Cowgirls defense was impressive holding Southwest to just 18 attempts from the field (6-18, 33%), forcing 11 turnovers, and recording 7 steals. The Cowgirls got off 35 field goal attempts compared to just 18 by Southwest, but were ice cold on their home floor, shooting just 8-for-35(22%) from the field and 1-for-13(7%) from long distance. "Our defense in the half court isn't too bad right now; we are just fouling too much. With the new NCAA rule changes, the game is going to get called much tighter. It doesn't help a team like us that wants to pressure the ball. However, we'll make some adjustments and work at keeping teams off the free throw line," commented Darling.
The Cowgirls outscored the University of the Southwest 60-41 in the second half, earning the Cowgirls first home victory of the season. The Cowgirls, led by Head Coach Tiffany Darling, are now 3-0 heading into conference action on December 6-7 in Colorado.
From the start of the second half, the Cowgirls picked up the intensity and the pace. The Cowgirls started to take control at the 12:49 mark, when
Michelle Traynham attacked the hoop and made a layup to take a 42-34 lead and electrifying the home crowd. The Cowgirl guards started to heat up in the second half. Leading the way was Traynham who scored 17 of her 19 points in the second half.
Jenny Johnson scored all 9 points of her points in the second half, on perfect 3-for-3 shooting from the field while also recording 4 assists in the final period.
Two Cowgirls ended the night with double figure scoring.
Michelle Traynham finished with a game high 19 points on 8-for-15 shooting from the field and 3-for-8 shooting from deep. She also recorded 7 rebounds in only 20 minutes of action.
China Smith ended the night with 10 points and 6 rebounds in only 15 minutes of time on the court.
Claudia Meneses just missed earning her first double double as a Cowgirl with 10 rebounds and 8 points in 22 minutes.
The Cowgirls next game is on the road against Colorado Christian University on December 6th at 6 p.m. in Lakewood, Colorado. If you can't make it out to Lakewood, Colo. to catch your Cowgirls in action, you can watch the entire game via the internet stream provided by the
America One Network.
GO COWGIRLS!!!
