PORTALES, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands women's basketball team held a two-point lead going into the fourth quarter, but fell to Western New Mexico 50-34 Saturday night at Greyhound Arena.
The Cowgirls (0-2) led 21-11 at the half after holding the Mustangs (2-0) to 4-for-22 shooting (18.2 percent) over the opening 20 minutes.
But WNMU slowly chipped away at the lead in the third quarter and actually took the lead at 27-25 before baskets by
Allyah George and
DeAvion Allen for the Cowgirls gave NMHU a 29-27 lead going into the final quarter.
The Cowgirl lead was 30-29 with eight minutes left before a WNMU 3-pointer ignited a 21-4 run for the Mustangs to end the contest to pull away with the victory.
Amari Terry led the Cowgirls with 12 points to go along with four rebounds and two steals while Allen finished with eight points and seven rebounds. The Cowgirls shot 29.5 percent from the field (13-for-44), including 2-for-17 from 3-point range, and were 6-for-13 from the free-throw line.
Tatyanna McFarland and Paulina Rodriguez led WNMU with 17 points apiece with McFarland adding 16 rebounds and three steals. The Mustangs shot 34 percent from the field (17-for-50), including 7-for-18 from 3-point range (38.9 percent), and were 9-for-14 from the free-throw line.
The Cowgirls return to action 5:30 p.m. Monday as they take on University of the Southwest in Hobbs, New Mexico.
