PUEBLO, Colo. – The Cowgirls rallied from a seven point deficit late in the game to knot the game at 58, but the home team withstood the run as the New Mexico Highlands Cowgirls (4-14, 3-11 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) dropped a heartbreaker at CSU-Pueblo (11-7, 9-5 RMAC) 65-60 Friday night (Jan. 30) in Pueblo, Colorado.
Trailing 56-49 with six minutes left in the game, senior
Jenny Johnson dialed it up from long range for the Cowgirls to tie the game. Johnson hit a pair of triples to quickly cut the deficit to one before CSU-Pueblo hit a pair of free throws to push the lead back to three. Sophomore
Giulia Simioni – who had a career high 11 assists for her third double-digit assist game of the year – then found Johnson for a three to tie the game with three minutes left. Johnson finished the game 5-7 from distance and a game-best 21 points.
Angie Moore hit a pair of jumpers to put the home team in the lead for good. The Thunderwolves missed five free throws in the final minute to give Highlands a chance, but the Cowgirls missed five shots as the home team claimed the five point win.
The Cowgirls out rebounded CSU-Pueblo 41-35, but the home team forced 18 turnovers that resulted in 20 points, compared to nine forced turnovers for 10 points for Highlands. Senior
Claudia Menses had 17 points and eight rebounds, while junior
Brittany Brown had nine each in points and boards.
Highlands fell down 13-5 early in the game, but scored 10 unanswered to take the lead. Johnson and Meneses hit jumpers before Simioni cut the deficit to two with a layup. Simioni found Meneses to tie the score before a Menses jumper gave the visitors its first lead of the game with 11:25 left in the first half.
However, CSU-Pueblo responded with an 8-0 run of its own. Tuileisu Anderson, who was perfect from beyond the arc and came off the bench for 12 points, canned the first of three triples on the night to give the Thunderwolves back the lead. Anderson hit another triple and Dee Arrieta – who added 10 points – hit a jumper to put the home team up 21-15 with 9:20 left in the first half.
Katie Nehf led the Thunderwolves with 15 points while Moore came off the bench for 12.
The Cowgirls return to action tomorrow night (Jan. 31) at UC-Colorado Springs. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.
