ABILENE, Texas — Kaitlyn Talbet's 3-pointer with 1:15 to play proved to be the difference as McMurry beat Hardin-Simmons, 62-59, in the last installment of the Crosstown Showdown in American Southwest Conference women's basketball action on Monday night at the Mabee Complex.
McMurry led 54-46 with 4:34 to play when Alexis Popelar hit a pair of free throws for the Cowgirls to make it 54-48 and Coco Cartwright hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to three at 54-51 with 3:45 to play. After a Celeste Belizario shot made it 56-51, Popelar answered with a 3-point play to make it 56-54.
After another stop, Jasmine Lewis split a pair of free throws to make it 56-55 with 2:15 to play. Belizarion split a pair of free throws and then Popelar tied the game with a jumper in the paint at 57 with 1:39 to play.
In the possession on Talbet's 3-pointer Jasmine Lewis had a near steal at midcourt but Keisha Collins gathered the ball and found a wide open Talbet. Lewis came down and scored for the Cowgirls but Rikeita Thomas came back with a jumper to make 62-59 with :26 to play
Coco Cartwright then had a 3-point attempt go off and Kara Looten's 3-pointer at the buzzer came up short and the War Hawks beat the Cowgirls for the eighth time in the last 10 meetings. The series between the two, which will likely end with McMurry moving to Division II next year ends with HSU holding a 52-23 advantage.
Tory Salazar's lay-up with nine seconds to play gave McMurry a 33-31 halftime lead.
McMurry won the game on the backboards as they outrebounded HSU 44-34 and outscored HSU 19-6 in second-chance points. The game featured five ties and four lead changes.
Lewis led the Cowgirls with 19, including 14 in the first half. Popelar had 14 and Angela Newcombe had 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Belizario led McMurry with 16 points, Keisha Collins had 14 and M.J> Vickers had 14 rebounds.
The Cowgirls are now 9-10 on the year and 7-8 in ASC play and McMurry improved to 14-5 overall and 12-3 in league play. The Cowgirls hit the road for four straight games, beginning Thursday night in Seguin.
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