NMHU keeps it close early in fourth, but Mines pulls away late

GOLDEN, COLO. --- The New Mexico Highlands women's basketball team fell to Colorado School of Mines 71-59 on Friday night at Lockridge Arena.
 
The Cowgirls (4-21 overall, 2-16 RMAC) trailed 54-40 late in the third quarter before a Kish Chandler 3-pointer with just seconds left in the quarter ignited an 8-0 run that included a Jordyn Lewis 3-pointer and a DeAvion Allen bucket to cut the Orediggers' (15-8, 12-6) lead to 54-48 with 9:00 remaining in the contest.
 
But NMHU – which ended the second quarter on a 13-0 run to cut the Mines' lead to 36-30 at the half – wouldn't get any closer as the Orediggers drained four fourth-quarter 3-pointers to keep the Cowgirls at a distance.
 
Lewis paced the Cowgirls with 19 points (including going 4-for-8 from 3) to go along with three assists, Brianna Stewart had 16 points (draining three 3-pointers) and two blocks while Amari Terry had eight points, eight assists and two steals.
 
NMHU outshot Mines, shooting 41.5 percent compared to 40.3 percent for the Orediggers, but 18 offensive rebounds for Mines led to 16 second-chance points compared to one offensive rebound for three second-chance points for the Cowgirls was the difference.
 
NMHU concludes the road trip 5:30 p.m. Saturday as the Cowgirls take on UC Colorado Springs.