CCU run the difference as Cowgirls fall to Cougars

LAKEWOOD, Colo. --- When Jordyn Lewis drained a 3-pointer with 1:55 left in the second quarter to tie the New Mexico Highlands women's basketball team with Colorado Christian at 32-32, it appeared the Cowgirls were going to be right there with the Cougars the rest of the way.
 
But CCU went on 21-2 run from that point until midway through the third quarter to pull away for a 71-55 victory Saturday night at the CCU Event Center.
 
NMHU (3-11 overall, 1-6 RMAC) led 14-13 with less than a minute left in the first quarter, but the Cougars (6-7, 4-3) went on a quick 5-0 run over the final 37 seconds of the quarter to take an 18-14 lead.
 
The Cowgirls retook the lead in the second quarter as a layup by DeAvion Allen and a three-point play by Kish Chandler at the 6:00 mark gave NMHU a 24-22 advantage. The Cowgirls led 29-27 after a Jordyn Lewis 3-pointer and were tied at 32 after another Lewis 3, but that's when the Cougars went on their run.
 
Over the 21-2 run that gave CCU a 53-34 lead, the Cougars went 8-for-11 from the field, 3-for-4 from 3-opint range and didn't commit a turnover while NMHU went 0-for-5 during that 5 minute, 46 seconds stretch and turned the ball over three times.  NMHU got to within nine after an Amari Terry 3-pointer with 8:31 remaining in the fourth quarter, but that's as close as the Cowgirls would get.
 
Lewis led NMHU with 19 points, including going 4-for-6 from 3-point range. Allyah George had 13 points and seven rebounds while Chandler finished with nine points and four rebounds.
 
NMHU returns home to take on Colorado Mesa 5 p.m. Friday at Wilson Complex.