LAS VEGAS, N.M. In the first meeting of the year, the Cowgirls and the Mountaineers played a classic, two overtime battle. This time, they were not leaving anything to chance as New Mexico Highlands (6-17, 5-14) ran past Western State (4-19, 3-6 RMAC) 85-72 Saturday afternoon.
The Cowgirls erased a poor shooting night on Friday by hitting better than 50 percent of their shots taken in the game. With Highlands clinging to a 29-28 lead late in the first half, senior
Jenny Johnson rushed down the court on a pass from sophomore
Giulia Simioni for the fastbreak hoop and the harm. After three missed shots and offensive boards on the next Cowgirls offensive possession, senior
Anngelina Sanchez popped a triple. Johnson capped the run with a layup on a pass from Simioni.
Sanchez had seven assists and 17 points while Simioni came off the bench with seven points and six dimes.
The Mountaineers cut the deficit to as low as two in the second half, but Highlands answered with another eight unanswered. Up 68-65 with 7:39 left in the game, junior
Brittany Brown hit a layup before senior
Kristy Marquez hit a pair from the line. Simioni made a layup and then off an defensive rebound, she found Johnson, who hit Marquez for the fastbreak layup.
The Cowboys had 10 points in transition compared to none for the visitors in the game.
With the Cowboys up double digits in the second half, 54-42, Western State went to work to go on a 12-2 run and climb within two. Sydnie Lengyel hit a pair from the line before Stephanie Williams hit a pair of jumpers around two free throws. Jade McIntosh, one of five Mountaineers with double digit scoring (12 points) added a pair of jumpers. However, Western State climbed no closer.
Taylor Long led Western State with 15 points, Williams chipped in 14 and Lengyel had 12. Taylor Mays came off the bench for 11 points.
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The Cowgirls return to action next Friday against Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado, at 6 p.m.
