BROWNWOOD, TX - The Mississippi College women's basketball team finished their 2010-11 season with 77-71 loss to Hardin-Simmons in the opening round of the American Southwest Conference Tournament.

The Lady Choctaws have qualified for all but one ASC Tournament and advanced to the championship game in 2004.

The Lady Choctaws led most of the first half, taking their largest advantage at 23-15 with 7:38 remaining on two free throws by sophomore Traci Rodgers.  Hardin-Simmons closed the gap to just a 32-30 lead as the two teams went into halftime.

In the second half, MC jumped out to a five-point lead on a jumper by Jalessa Taylor with 17:16 to go in the game.  The two teams traded leads the rest of the way with Taylor making a jumper with 1:49 remaining to tie the game at 69.

Coco Cartwright made a three-pointer for HSU on the next possession and the Cowgirls would not trail again.

Rodgers led MC with 24 points on 9-11 shooting, including going 2-4 from the three-point line.  Taylor scored 16 points and pulled down seven rebounds in her final game as a Lady Choctaw.

Senior guard Randa Lee finished her MC career with 10 points and six assists, while junior Brigit Taylor tallied 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds in the loss.

Alexis Popelar led Hardin-Simmons with 28 points on 10-17 shooting, while Lindsey Newcombe recorded a double-double with 22 points and 17 rebounds.

The Lady Choctaws finished the 2010-11 season with a record of 17-9.

Hardin-Simmons will move on to face Louisiana College at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.