Box Score LAS VEGAS, N.M. – It was a sign of things to come from the opening tip, and the Cowgirls never let off the gas for the entire game.
The Cowgirls controlled the opening tip as sophomore
Leisha Crawford threw to junior
Jenny Johnson for a fast break lay-up only five seconds into the game. New Mexico Highlands University (7-6, 4-6 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) finished off a crucial weekend sweep with an 82-60 win over Adams State (7-7, 3-6 RMAC) Saturday night (Jan. 11) at the John A. Wilson Complex.
After the opening score, senior
TJ Manson then blocked a shot that was cleaned up by senior
China Smith, who quickly brought the ball up the court and found Manson down low for the hoop. Smith finished the game with her second double-double in as many nights – and her sixth on the season – with 13 points and 12 boards to go along with five helpers. Another Manson lay-up and a pair from the charity stripe by Smith gave Highlands the first eight points of the game.
The Cowgirls scored in each of their first four possessions and never trailed the entire contest.
Later in the half, a jumper by junior
Anngelina Sanchez gave Highlands a double-digit lead just nine minutes into the game. Sanchez, despite being a guard, narrowly missed the double-double with a game-high 17 points and nine boards.
Highlands held a double-digit lead for good thanks to an 11-3 run near the end of half. Leading 23-12, Smith split from the line and made a lay-up. Mariah Gonzales, who led the visitors with 17 points, hit a pair from the line. On the next offensive possession, the Cowgirls missed a lay-up that was cleaned up by Smith. Smith found Lopez behind the arc, who made the triple while being fouled.
Lopez made the free throw to complete the four-point play, one of two four-point plays by the guard in the game. She capped the spurt with a pair from the charity stripe to put Highlands up 34-15 with 2:30 left in the first half.
A three the old-fashioned way and one the usual way before half by the Grizzlies cut the Cowgirls lead to 36-23 at the break.
A 16-1 run over four minutes in the middle of the second half pushed the Highlands lead to 28, its largest of the game. Crawford ignited the run with a pair of triples. Gonzales split from the line for the Grizzlies, but Manson answered with a pair from the charity stripe. Lopez then completed her second four-point play in as many halves.
A lay-up by Smith and a pair from the line by Lopez put the Cowgirls ahead, 67-39, with 7:25 remaining. Highlands went on to win by 22.
Smith and Sanchez were not the only ones to star for the Cowgirls. Lopez added 13 points and six boards while Manson had 10 points and seven rebounds. As a team, Highlands grabbed nine of the first 10 rebounds of the contest, going on to out-rebound the Grizzlies 44-29 in the contest.
The New Mexico Highlands University women's basketball team returns to action Friday (Jan. 17) when it visits Chadron State. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.
