Cowgirls Fall in a Nailbitter

Box Score Gunnison, Colo- Your New Mexico Highlands women's basketball team fell in a close one against Western State Colorado Universtiy in Gunnison, Colorado. Your Cowgirls fall to an overall record of 2-11, RMAC 0-9.

In the first quarter, senior Michelle Traynham got your Cowgirls going with draining a shot from down town. Then to gain the lead the sophomore Michelle Tapia got to the hole and finished with a nice bucket. That didn't stop the Mountaineers as they started to finish in the paint to steal the lead in the first quarter. With 35 seconds left in the quarter, Traynahm knocked down another trey to help get the Cowgirls down by eight going into the second quarter.

In the second quarter, Traynham came in hot with back to back treys to get your Cowgirls down by two baskets. Unfortunately, Western State answered with a couple triples too to regain the lead. Traynham continued to work for your Cowgirls and found her way to the basket. Both teams battled but the Mountaineers took the first half 34-28.

In the third quarter,  the Cowgirls came out ready to play with back to back baskets from beyond the arc from Junior Giulia Simioni and Michelle Traynham tying the game at 34.  The Mountaineers answered with a lay-up but Traynham stepped up on back to back plays with a jumper and a trey to gain the lead by two. Western State would then come back by attacking the hole and getting to the free throw line. With 4:30 left freshman Brianna Pribble hit one from way out to tie up the game at 42. Then sophomore Kylee Reibel steped up and helped the Cowgirls keep the lead. The Cowgirls go into the last quarter up by three.

In the fourth quarter, the Mountaineers got to the free throw line to lessen the lead but Cowgirls' Reibel finished in the paint with a nice lay-up to get them going. Then the Mountaineers answered with back to back plays to grab the lead again putting your Cowgirls down by 4. That didn't stop Michelle Traynham as she knocked down two free throws and Simioni drained one from behind the arc to regain the lead. The Cowgirls continued to hit shots and build up their lead on the Mountaineers. With 3:50 left in the game, the Cowgirls were up by five but the Mountaineers battled back with knocking down seven straight free throws. Western State ended up taking the win home with them on their home court. Final sore 65-60 Western St.
 

Leading Scorer	Michelle Traynahm- 26 pts
Leading Rebounder	Kristy Marquez-10 rebounds
Leading Assist	Michelle Tapia-3 assist

The Cowgirls return to action next weekend when they host Chadron St. on Friday and Regis on Saturday. Game time is set for 5:00 p.m.