Box Score LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The Cowgirls overcame an 11-point deficit early to take a four-point lead at halftime, but it was not enough as New Mexico Highlands University (4-3, 1-3 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) fell short against #5 Colorado Mesa, 81-70, in women's basketball Saturday night (Dec. 14) at the John A. Wilson Complex.
Down 16-5, Highlands scored 11 unanswered to tie the game. Freshman
Giulia Simioni ignited the Cowgirls out of a timeout with a layup and three-pointer. Sophomore
Leisha Crawford added a layup and a pair from the free-throw line. Senior
TJ Manson – playing in only her third game of the season and making her first start – knotted the game at 16.
Manson scored 14 points for the game with six rebounds and four blocks. Crawford added 15 points while Simioni came off the bench to lead the team with 19 points on 7-13 shooting.
Highlands and the Mavericks went back and forth in the first halfuntil an offensive put back junior
Claudia Meneses put the Cowgirls in the lead for the first time in the game, 22-20. The home team built the lead to four, but a Mavericks' three from Taylor Rock cut the deficit to one with just over a minute remaining until half.
Both teams traded a possession and Highlands had the final shot of the half. A rainbow three from the top of the key was drained by Simioni as the Cowgirls led 39-35 at break.
Out of the intermission, Crawford hit another three to give Highlands its largest lead of the game. Later in the period, sophomore
Kate Cryderman made a layup from Crawford to put Highlands up 48-43, but the visitors responded with an 18-3 run to seize control of the game. Siu Lo'amanu made a pair from the line, Sharaya Selsor hit a jumper and a Rock triple gave the Mavericks its first lead of the second half with 13:43 left.
Crawford answered with a three for the Cowgirls to grab the lead back, but a Selsor cleaned up her own miss to give Colorado Mesa a 52-51 lead, an advantage the Mavericks would hold for the rest of the contest. Selsor scored a game-high 32 points for Colorado Mesa, including 19 in the second half alone.
The women's basketball team returns to action Friday (Dec. 20) when it travels to take on the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m.
