LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The height advantage the Yellow Jackets had over the Cowgirls shown through.
New Mexico Highlands (4-12, 3-9 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) had nine shots rejected and lost the rebounding battle 40-23 as Black Hills State (10-5, 8-3 RMAC) won Saturday night (Jan. 17) 79-61 in the Wilson Complex in Las Vegas, N.M.
Down 14-7 just five minutes in, the Cowgirls used an 11-4 run to tie the score. Senior
Claudia Meneses drained a triple. The visitors hit a pair from the line, but senior
Anngelina Sanchez brought the game within a single possession with a three. Sanchez hit a pair from the line to cut the deficit to one before the Yellow Jackets' Chelsey Biegler hit a layup. Senior
Jenny Johnson came down and hit a triple to tie the score at 18 with 12:22 remaining in the first half.
The Cowgirls hit four of their first seven threes in the game, but only hit six of their final 16 from distance, finishing the game 10-23 (43.5 percent) from three.
Meneses came off the bench to lead the team with 14 points while Johnson and Sanchez each contributed 10. Sophomore
Giulia Simioni had her second double-digit assist game of the season to finish with 10 dimes and seven points.
After the Cowgirls tied the game at 18, the Yellow Jackets defense held Highlands scoreless for the next six minutes as they scored 15 unanswered. Biegler hit a triple and on the ensuing possession hit a pair from the line. Taylor Trohkimoinen split from the line before hitting a layup. An inside shot from Cassidy Kotelman put the visitors up double digits for good in the game.
The Yellow Jackets hit five of their next six free throws to take a 15 point lead before Simioni drained a three with 5:43 left in the half. Black Hills State led 48-31 at the break.
For the Yellow Jackets, Biegler had 21 points and eight boards and five assists. Logan Cowan had 17 points while Trohkimoinen had 15.
Highlands was able to cut a 25-point deficit to 13 in the second half, but they could climb no closer in the 18 point loss.
The Cowgirls return to action next Saturday (Jan. 24) as they battle rival Western New Mexico at 2 p.m.
