Abram Choate, SID

ABILENE, Texas – The Howard Payne Lady Jackets snapped the Cowgirls of Hardin-Simmons 13-game winning streak with a 66-64 loss in American Southwest Conference West Division action at the Mabee Complex on Saturday.

The Lady Jackets came out in the first half and hit seven 3-pointers and led by as many as 10 points at 27-17, but the Cowgirls battled back and took a 34-30 lead with a 17-3 run. Howard Payne scored the last four points off the first half to take a 37-36 halftime lead.

In the second half, the Jackets again jumped out to a double digit lead and led 60-48 with 10:15 to play, but the Cowgirls responded again and tied the game at 64 with 2:38 to play. Both team had several chances to score in the final 2:38, but only a pair of So. F Kim Hoffman(Bloomington HS) free throws found the net. The decisive shots came at the 1:02 mark. HSU had a turnover and then a Melissa Henley block forced the Lady Jackets into a shot clock violation to give the Cowgirls the ball with 7.9 seconds to play. Sonya West got a rebound but her shot was off at the buzzer.

So. G Meia Daniels(Fossil Ridge HS) proved why she is probably the MVP of the ASC West with 23 points and nine rebounds. She buried five 3-pointers in the game. Kim Hoffman and So. C Stacey Blalock(Magnolia HS) added 17 and 11 respectively.

Melissa Henley led the Cowgirls with 17 points. West added 15 points and 10 rebounds.

The Lady Jackets are on the road this next Monday in Alpine against Sul Ross State at 4:00pm.