LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands women's basketball team rallied from a six-point, fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime and then controlled the extra period to defeat Adams State 66-62 Saturday night at Wilson Complex.
The Cowgirls (3-7 overall, 1-2 RMAC) trailed Adams State (1-4, 1-2) 40-34 with 5:48 remaining in the contest before a 6-0 run capped by an
Allyah George drive and layup with 4:06 left. The teams were tied at 43, 45 and 47 before a jumper by George with 23 seconds left in the game to give NMHU a 49-47 advantage. But the Grizzlies' Stephanie Ruiz scored on a jumper with 14 seconds remaining to tie it and the Cowgirls' 3-point attempt with seconds left was off the mark and the teams headed to overtime.
The teams were tied at 57-57 with 2:28 left in overtime when
Jordyn Lewis hit a pair of free throws to give NMHU a two-point lead with 2:06 remaining. The Cowgirls led the rest of the way with Lewis draining a pair of free throws with six seconds left to clinch the game for NMHU at 66-62.
Lewis led the Cowgirls with 25 points and went 4-for-10 from 3-point range and 7-for-7 from the free throw line. George had 20 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and two assists. The Cowgirls finished shooting 34.5 percent from the field (though 50 percent in the fourth quarter and overtime).
Ruiz led Adams State with 17 points while Brooke Neal had 13 points and six rebounds and Maddie Dorris had 12 points and nine rebounds. The Grizzlies shot 41 percent from the field, including 28.6 percent from 3-point range (8-for-28).
NMHU hits the road to take on Dixie State next Friday in St. George, Utah.
