ABILENE, Texas — Hardin-Simmons' women's basketball team shot 64 percent in the second half and the three seniors combined for 51 points in an 81-76 win over Howard Payne in American Southwest Conference action at the Mabee Complex on Saturday afternoon.
The Cowgirl trio of seniors Kara Looten, Jasmine Lewis and Angela Newcombe scored 35 points in the second half to bring the Cowgirls back from an eight-point deficit.
The game was back and forth in the last half and there were 13 lead changes and four ties in the second half alone and 16 lead changes and five ties in the game.
Neither team led by more than five points in the first half until Howard Payne used an 8-0 run to take a 35-26 lead with 1:19 to play in the half. HSU scored the final three points of the half to trail 35-29 at halftime.
HPU led 54-48 with 12:01 to play, but the senior trio fueled an 8-0 run to give HSU a 56-54 lead with 9:37 to play. It was the first lead for the Cowgirls since the 7:35 mark of the first half.
The teams traded the lead nine times over the next six minutes and HPU led 72-68 on a Brittany Roberson layup. Coco Cartwright answered that with a 3-pointers and Tresta Donahoo hit a runner for HPU. Newcombe cut it to 74-73 with a turnaround jumper with 1:54 to play.
Jasmine Lewis then corralled a rebound on the next HPU possession and was fouled and her free throws gave the Cowgirls a 75-74 lead with 1:26 to play. Donahoo hit a pair of free throws to give HPU the lead back and Newcombe answered with a pair of free throws to give HSU a 77-76 lead.
Newcombe then grabbed an HPU miss on the next possession and Cartwright was fouled and she hit both free throws and Newcombe came away with a steal on HPU's next possession.
The Cowgirls hit 26-of-28 free throws in the game and shot 52 percent from the field, including 16-of-25 in the second half. HSU was also 17-of-18 at the line in the second half.
Lewis led the Cowgirls with a season-high 20 points off the bench. Newcombe had her sixth straight double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Looten had 14 points, all in the second half, and Alexis Popelar had 14 points and Cartwright added 12.
Brittany Roberson had 24 points to pace Howard Payne and Roshonda Gayden added 12 points
The Cowgirls are 13-12 on the season and 11-10 in ASC play. HSU will play at Louisiana College at 7:30 Friday in Pineville in the first round of the ASC Tournament. Howard Payne is now 20-5 on the year and 16-5 in ASC play. The Lady Jackets are the No. 3 seed out of the ASC West.