(Zach Carattini, CSC Sports Information)
The Chadron State College women’s basketball team (7-14, 6-10 RMAC) was defeated 76-71 after a monster fourth quarter by New Mexico Highlands (6-17, 3-14 RMAC) in Las Vegas Friday night.
CSC enjoyed one of its best shooting performances of the season, going 10-19 on three-pointers and 7-10 on free throws. Despite the effort, the Eagles were unable to hold off a 31-point surge by the Cowgirls offense in the fourth quarter.
Jori Peters scored the first points of the game after sprinting down the court for a fastbreak layup. She then stole the ball from NMHU’s Shania Johnson and swished a subsequent three-pointer. A layup by Samiyah Worrell gave the Eagles a 7-0 lead to start the game. Worrell and Olyvia Pacheco each landed a three before the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter began with CSC leading 21-16. Worrell and Pacheco each put up another three-pointer while NMHU’s Maiah Rivas landed one of her own to help the Cowgirls come back to within a three-point deficit before the third quarter. The score was 34-31 Eagles at halftime.
Both teams traded blows in the third quarter with Worrell adding another three-pointer and Johnson answering back with a three of her own. Highlands gained its first lead of the night after a layup by Rivas put the Cowgirls up 38-37 at 7:16. Chadron State gained the lead back and led the Cowgirls 48-45 heading into the fourth quarter.
Chadron State led Highlands for most of the fourth quarter until Aja Scott landed back-to-back threes at 4:10 and 3:12 to gain a 64-63 lead. The Cowgirls would score six more unanswered points to increase their lead to seven. Down by nine with 20 seconds of the game, Worrell and Bailey Brooks each netted a three-pointer to close out the game. The final score was 76-71.
Highlands’ big fourth quarter was the result of shooting 80% on field goals (12-15), 75% on three-pointers (3-4), and 100% on free throws (4-4).
The Eagles will be looking to bounce back when they travel to play UCCS (9-14, 7-10 RMAC) at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow.
Chadron State—Samiyah Worrell 25, Jori Peters 12, Bailey Brooks 11, Olyvia Pacheco 8, Ashayla Powers 4, Tatum Peterson 4, Riley Aiono 2, Brittni McCully 2, Elle Ravenscroft 2, Olivia Waufle 1. FG/3PT/FT: 27-70/10-19/7-10, 71 points, 35 rebounds, 8 assists, 12 turnovers.
New Mexico Highlands—Aja Scott 19, Awreona Ransom 15, Maiah Rivas 13, Shania Johnson 7, Jordyn Lewis 6, Sana’a Baker 6, Desiree Forster 6, Ashley Antone 4. FG/3PT/FT: 29-67/7-24/11-11, 76 points, 37 rebounds, 19 assists, 9 turnovers.
Chadron State 21 13 14 23 –71
New Mexico Highlands 14 17 14 31 –76
3-pointers: CSC—Worrell 6, Pacheco 2, Peters 1, Brooks 1. NMHU—Scott 3, Rivas 2, Johnson 1, Ransom 1.