ABILENE, Texas --- The Mississippi College women's basketball team had a three-game win streak snapped with an 85-73 loss at Hardin-Simmons on Monday night at the Mabee Complex.

The Lady Choctaws (6-3, 3-2 ASC) opened the game with an 11-2 lead, but the Cowgirls (5-5, 3-3 ASC) responded with an 18-0 run to take the lead for good.

In the second half, HSU would take their largest lead of the game when Alexis Popelar made a three-pointer with 15:39 remaining to put the Cowgirls ahead, 52-28.  Popelar went over 1,000 points in her career with 30 points in the contest.  She completed the double-double with 10 rebounds.

MC would go on a 32-12 run of their own over the next seven minutes to get as close as 64-60 with 8:34 remaining.  The Cowgirls scored the next six points, and the Lady Choctaws could get no closer than eight points the rest of the way.

In the second half, MC had 10 steals and scored 17 points off of 12 HSU turnovers.  Senior Valeri Stewart led the way with five steals.

Senior Ebony Williams paced MC with 17 points, going 6-7 from the floor and 5-5 from the free throw line.  As a team, the Lady Choctaws made 24-28 (86%) at the foul line.

Senior Traci Rodgers and junior Jasmine James had 13 points apiece for MC, while senior Jamie Lack (11 pts.) and Stewart (10 pts.) were also in double-figures.

Popelar led the Cowgirls with the double-double, while Coco Cartwright had 19 points, going 3-6 from the three-point line.  Popelar was 8-15 from the floor and went 13-14 from the free throw line.

The Lady Choctaws will not be back in action until Friday, December 28th when they play in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic in Montgomery, Ala., hosted by Huntingdon.  MC will face Maryville (TN) and Hanover.