LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The Cowgirls led for more than 38 minutes of the game, but the Eagles took their first lead of the contest in overtime and held on for the win as New Mexico Highlands (4-11, 3-8 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) fell to Chadron State (3-11, 3-7 RMAC) 85-80 in overtime.
The Cowgirls scored the games first seven points and raced out to a 24-6 advantage. Redshirt freshman
Michelle Tapia hit a layup and a jumper before senior
Anngelina Sanchez nailed a triple. After Chadron State hit a pair from the line, Sanchez hit a jumper and junior
Brittany Brown hit a triple to push the Highlands edge to double digits. Simioni then grabbed a steal and made the fastbreak layup before senior
Jenny Johnson nailed a triple to put the home team up 17-2 just six minutes into the game.
Chadron State's Emma Block finally hit a layup at 13:25 minute mark in the first half as the Eagles scored their first basket of the game 6:35 into the contest after missing their first eight shots from the field. Johnson answered with a triple to push the lead to 20-4. After a pair of Eagles free throws, sophomore
Giulia Simioni and senior
Kristy Marquez hit layups to give Highlands the 24-6 advantage.
However, Chadron State ended the first half on a 14-3 run as Highlands held a slim 38-34 lead at the break.
Four different players reached double-digit scoring for the Cowgirls, led by Simioni's 21 points. She also added seven assists. Sanchez had 15 points while Johnson added 14 points and four steals. Redshirt freshman
Kylee Reibel came off the bench for 10 points and a pair of blocks.
After a slow start in the game from the field, Chadron State made 10 of its final 16 shots of the first half to cut the deficit to four. Four players reached double-digit scoring for the Eagles, led by Allegria Chisom's 25 points. Block came off the bench for 16 while Stephanie Knowles had the double-double with 13 points and 10 boards.
With the game tied at 42, the Cowgirls went on a 13-2 run to push the lead back to double digits in the second half. Simioni made a pair of layups around a Chadron State offensive foul. Kayla Matthews hit a pair of freebies for the visitors to cut the lead in half, but Reibel answered with a layup and Siminoni drove to the hoop on a fastbreak for the easy basket. Reibel hit another layup and Simioni drained a triple to push the lead back to double digits 55-44, with 9:26 left.
The Cowgirls had a 69-64 edge with two minutes left, but an 8-3 run by the visitors sent the game to overtime. After Chisom split from the line, the Eagles came up with a steal and Chisom added a layup. Kate Simonton then split from the line, but Simioni made a layup with the shot clock winding down to give the home team a 71-68 edge. Chisom hit a shot to bring the visitors within one before Simioni split from the line. Chadron State's Maka Daysh tied the game at 72 with 20 seconds left and the Cowgirls could not get a final shot off.
The Cowgirls took an early lead in overtime and led 76-74, but the hoop and harm for Chisom gave Chadron State its first lead of the game, 77-76, with 2:34 left in overtime. The Eagles salted the game away by going 7-for-11 from the charity stripe in the extra session.
The Cowgirls return to action tomorrow when they take on Black Hills State. Game time is set for 5 p.m.
