Cowgirls To Play Home Openers

Las Vegas, New Mexico - The Cowgirls will face in state rival Western New Mexico in home opener on Monday followed by a home game against the Sul Ross State Lobos on Saturday.
 
COACH FEARING:
Coach Fearing enters her third year as the head coach of the Cowgirls. The Cowgirls finished last season 13-14 overall and 9-11 in conference with a 8-4 home record they finished 9^th overall in the RMAC last season.
 
The 2024-25 season Coach reached the RMAC Tournament with a 13-13 record before falling to Colorado Mesa in the first round on the road. It was the first time in 20 years that a Cowgirls basketball team had reached the postseason.
 
RMAC POLL:
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) released the 2026-27 Preseason Coaches' Poll. New Mexico Highlands received 99 points in the voting by the conference's 15 coaches.
 
Aniya Johnson and Kapiolani Anitielu also both made the Preseason All RMAC Conference team in the voting as well, Johnson finished last season averaging five rebounds per game and 12.8 points per game last season with the Cowgirls. Kapiolani Anitielu averaged 16.4 points per game last season and 6.3 boards per game.
 
 
Roster Breakdown:
Coach Fearing's roster features a fair number of young players but also eight juniors who have competed in the RMAC and can lead this Cowgirls program.
 
 
By Class:
Freshman: 3
Sophomore: 3
Junior: 8
Senior: 0
 
By Home State/Country:
New Mexico: 5
Arizona: 3
Texas: 2
California: 1
Colorado: 1
United Kingdom: 1
Australia: 1

LAST TIME OUT:
 
1^st Quarter Northeastern State 27 - 18 NMHU:
The Riverhawks opened the scoring, taking the lead earlier. Maya Barnes had the hot hand for the Cowgirls in the first quarter, going 2-2 from the field with two three pointers. The Cowgirls benched stepped up in the first half with 8 points in the first half. Despite the river hawks shooting well from the field the Cowgirls defense stepped up and held the Riverhawks scoreless the last 3:05 of the 1st quarter.
 
2^nd Quarter Northeastern State 47 – 31 NMHU:
The second quarter was a nemesis for the Cowgirls struggled from the field only shooting 34% from the field. The Cowgirls were also out rebounded by the Riverhawks in the first half. Barnes and Kamalani Anitielu ended the half with 8 points each in the first half. The Riverhawks shot 58% in the first half which allowed them to have the lead at the half.
 
3^rd Quarter Northeastern State 68 - 52 NMHU:
Barnes continued to stay hot from the field ending the third with 12 points. The Cowgirls bench also continued to battle for the Cowgirls, scoring 23 total 12 of which came of the hand of Barnes. The Cowgirls had only 10-13 from the charity strip while the Riverhawks were 20-30 from the lines. The Riverhawks also doubled the Cowgirls in rebounds. The Cowgirls trailed headed into the fourth.


4^th Quarter Northeastern State 84 - 66 NMHU:
The Riverhawks continued their run, and the Cowgirls went scoreless for four minutes. Which allowed the Riverhawks to continue to build the lead and eventually capture the win. The Riverhawks used second chance opportunities via rebounds and points off turnover to ice the game and capture the win.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION:
 
Western New Mexico:
The Mustangs were picked in the Lone Star Conference (LSC) Preseason Poll 16^th in 2026 after finishing last season 1-25 overall and 1-19 in the LSC. Brenda Nichols is in her third season as the head coach at Western New Mexico. A legend at Sam Houston State where she was Coach of the Year in the Southland Conference in 2013. Last year Nichols and her squad went 0-2 against Coach Fearing's Cowgirls. The trip Monday against the Cowgirls will be the season opener for Western New Mexico
 
Jordan Sapien was a named a player to watch in the LSC Poll following a season as a true freshman where she led the Mustangs in scoring, averaging 13.7 points per game while adding 3.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists across 24 appearances, including 23 starts. She finished the season with 329 points, 85 rebounds, 80 assists and a team-leading 50 steals. As well as earning All-LSC Freshman Team and All-LSC Honorable Mention recognition.
 
 
Sul Ross State:
Saturday the Cowgirls will face the Sul Ross State Lobos which will be the season opener for the Lobos. Sul Ross State came in 17^th in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll. E.J. Lee Smith is in her fourth year leading the Lobos in Alpine, Texas. Lee Smith has coached 11 all conference members and 30 academic all-conference selections
 
Leslie Mojica was named a player to watch in the Lone Star Conference coming off of a season where she averaged 12.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game last season and was also All-LSC honorable Mention last season.
 
ON THE AIR: All Cowgirls home games and Road RMAC games will be streamed on the RMAC Network.
 
 
GET YOUR TICKETS
Season and single-game tickets for both New Mexico Highlands basketball programs are available for purchase online at NMHUAthletics.com/Tickets.
 
 
Gameday Reminders:

NMHU is a cashless campus; all purchases must be made using Debit, Credit, or Mobile

NMHU has implemented a strict Clear Bag Policy for all on-campus events.

No outside food or drink is permitted at The Wilson Center.

No pets are allowed at The Wilson Center.