NMHU women's basketball opens season Friday at Western New Mexico

LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands women's basketball team will finally get to hit the floor under new coach Garett Sherman as the Cowgirls open the 2021-22 season Friday at Western New Mexico.

Sherman was hired following the 2019-20 season where the Cowgirls went 1-26 overall and 0-22 in RMAC play with NMHU's 2020-21 season canceled due to the pandemic - Sherman and his team finally get to hit the floor to show the strides made with a game Friday against the Mustangs and a contest Saturday in Silver City again against Eastern New Mexico.

The Cowgirls do return their top four leading scorers from the 2019-20 season in 5-foot-8 senior guard Jordyn Lewis (16.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.0 apg), 5-foot-11 sophomore forward Ashley Antone (11.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg), 5-foot-4 sophomore guard Maiah Rivas (10.9 ppg, 3.3 apg, 2.0 spg) and 5-foot-7 sophomore guard Desiree Forster (8.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.8 spg).

Sherman and company have also been hitting the recruiting trails hard since his arrival in 2020. Five-foot-10 guard Shania Johnson who played at Jackson State Community (averaged 12.0 ppg) before transferring to Johnson County Community College joins the fold for the Cowgirls. Awreona Ranson - a 5-foot-8 guard - transferred to NMHU after averaging 7.5 points per game at Butler Community College as did 6-foot forward Jessika Espinoza from McCook CC - averaging 5.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game during the 2020-21 season.

NMHU will also have a trio of talented freshman that should be in the mix this season in 5-foot-8 point guard Alyson Ray from Toledo, Ohio along with Lakeview Centennial High School (Dallas, Texas) teammates 6-foot forward Aja Scott and 6-foot-1 forward Sana'a Baker.

Following Friday and Saturday's contests, the Cowgirls will play their home opener 5 p.m. Monday against University of the Southwest at Wilson Complex.