Box Score
LAS VEGAS, N.M. – New Mexico Highlands University women's basketball (4-2, 1-2 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) lost a close 55-53 contest against visiting Western State University (3-4, 3-0 RMAC) Friday night (Dec. 13). The Cowgirls were up 35-20 at half, but the Mountaineers came out of intermission and out-scored the Cowgirls 35-18.
Senior China Smith (18 points, 12 rebounds) got her third double-double of the season in tonight's game to lead the Cowgirls.
In the first half, the Cowgirls attacked the basket and got fouled 14 times as they went 10-16 (62.5 percent) from the free throw line. Defensive rebounding was also key to Highlands lead as the Cowgirls out-rebounded Western State 23-18 in the first stanza.
At the half, Smith had eight points and five rebounds to lead the Cowgirls.
Western State held a 16-13 lead midway through the first half before Highlands scored 13 unanswered to go up double-digits. Smith split from the line and senior Patrina Goree tied the game with a layup. Junior's Trish Simpson and Jenny Johnson both added a pair of shots to put Highlands in the lead. A fast break layup by Goree and a split from the line for senior Alyssa Lopez ended the Cowgirls spurt.
A layup just before the buzzer in the first half gave Highlands a 15-point halftime advantage.
In the second half, Western State came out hot, led by Desiree Smith's 18 points in the period alone. New Mexico Highlands led 53-46 with 4:04 to go in the game, but Western State scored the game's final nine points for the win. With 44 ticks left, Sydney Mare hit her lone shot of the game - a three-pointer - to give the Mountaineers the lead. Neither team scored the rest of the contest.
Saturday night (Dec. 14), #5 Colorado Mesa University comes into the John A. Wilson Complex to play the Cowgirls at 6:00 pm. If you cannot make it to the contest, Live Stats are available or you can watch the game live on the America One Network.
