GOLDEN, Colo. –The Cowgirls led for most of the first nine minutes, but the Orediggers weathered the storm and pushed the lead to double-digits as New Mexico Highlands (6-18, 5-15 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) lost to Colorado School of Mines (12-14, 7-13 RMAC) 88-65 Friday night (Feb. 20) in Golden, Colorado.
Seniors
Anngelina Sanchez and
Jenny Johnson both hit triples to begin the game, but Highlands was unable to expand the lead past three. With Highlands down 13 early in the second half, the visitors put a 11-4 run together to cut the deficit down to six. Junior
Brittany Brown and Johnson hit back-to-back triples to cut the deficit to seven. After both teams hit jumpers, Kristin Rydell extended the home team's advantage with a jumper. Sanchez answered with a triple to cut the deficit to 53-47 with 16:59 left in the game. After Highlands missed its first field goal of the second half, it hit its next four.
The Cowgirls cut the deficit to as low as five in the second half.
Johnson led the team with 17 points, while Sanchez and sophomore
Giulia Simioni scored 13 apiece. Simioni also contributed six assists against just one turnover.
The home team used a 45-32 rebounding edge and a 31-3 lead in points off turnovers in the win. After the Cowgirls cut it to 60-55 with 14:24 left, the Orediggers took control of the game with a 11-1 run. Laura Tyree – who was one of five Colorado School of Mines players with double-digit scoring and had the double-double with 13 points and 11 assists – hit a triple. Johnson split from the line, but Sam Rusk got in the scoring act with her own three. Paige Husa added a jumper and Elizabeth Tomon capped the run with a three.
Rusk scored 19 points while Taylor Helbig added 15. Courtney Martin had 13 points and Tomon came off the bench for 11 points.
The Cowgirls close the weekend Saturday (Feb. 21) at Colorado Christian. Game time is set for 5 p.m.
