by Las Vegas, NM — The New Mexico Highlands Women’s basketball team connected on 15 3-pointers to push the Cowgirls passed the Eagles 66-59 on Monday night at the Wilson Complex.
The Cowgirls started the game out hot as Jordyn Lewis (Navajo) connected on her first two shot attempts and Ashley Antone (Navajo) made a layup, which gave the Cowgirls an early 9-2 lead in the first quarter. The Eagles would settle in defensively and the Cowgirls maintained a 20-15 lead after the first quarter.
The second quarter was all Eagles as the Cowgirls slowed down offensively and couldn’t find momentum. Still the Cowgirls were able to maintain a 35-32 lead at half.
The Eagles would take a 38-37 lead over the Cowgirls with 7:46 left in the third period as Haley Eaves knocked down a three pointer. The Eagles would take as much as a 2-point lead before the Cowgirls would retake the lead at the 5 minute mark. The Cowgirls would push to an 8-point advantage that was fueled by a Lewis three pointer. At the end of the third, the Cowgirls held on to a 45-40 lead over the Eagles.
The Eagles would fight in the fourth quarter and cut the lead to 3 points with 3:47 left in the fourth quarter. And just as the Eagles found some momentum offensively, the Cowgirls would answer with a three from Ashley Antone with 1:26 to play and give the Cowgirls a 6 point advantage. Maiah Rivas would close out the game for the Cowgirls as she connected on her final 4 free-throw attempts and the Cowgirls would win by a score of 66-59.
Jordyn Lewis found her rhythm offensively as she connected on her first 2 three pointers and finished the game with 7 three pointers for 25 points and also added 5 rebounds. Rivas (18 points, 6 assists) and Antone (16 points, team high 8 rebounds) both stepped up big time fir the Cowgirls and connected on 4 three pointers each. The Cowgirls finished 34.5% from the field and 41.7% from 3. The Cowgirls dominated on the glass as they out-rebounded the Eagles 44-36 and also made 11 of 14 free throws for 78%.
The Cowgirls will be back in action this weekend as they travel to Durango, CO to take on Fort Lewis in a non-conference matchup at 5:30 pm at Whalen Gymnasium.
