Playing at Hardin-Simmons University’s Mabee Complex is an entirely different matter.
UMHB’s squads suffered a pair of losses to rival HSU on Thursday night, as the Cowgirls pulled away to beat the Lady Crusaders 66-51 before the Cowboys overcame a four-point halftime deficit and clipped the Crusaders 69-66.
The UMHB women dropped to 8-5 overall and 1-1 in American Southwest Conference West Division games. The men, who had their four-game winning streak stopped, slipped to 9-4, 1-1 in the ASC West.
Hardin-Simmons 66,
UMHB women 51
Surprisingly, the first meeting between the teams who tied for first in the preseason ASC West poll turned into a defensive battle, not a shootout.
But although UMHB held Hardin-Simmons well below its scoring average, the Lady Crusaders couldn’t beat the rival Cowgirls.
HSU (12-1, 2-0 ASC West) won its 12th straight game and extended its ASC home winning streak to 44 games.
“They were just the better defensive team tonight — no doubt,” said UMHB coach Margie Williamson, whose team was within six points of the Cowgirls with six minutes remaining. “But this is the best we’ve competed with them at their place in four years. The effort was there; we just didn’t get it done.”
The Cowgirls, ranked 16th in NCAA Division III in the d3hoops.com poll, forced the Lady Crusaders to cough up 29 turnovers.
“If you’re not shooting the ball, you’re not going to win ballgames,” said Williamson, who complimented her team for keeping the points down for Hardin-Simmons’ season leading scorers.
Lauren Harris, who averages a team-best 16.9 points per game, was held to 11 points, as was Diana Martinez (14.6 ppg.), the current ASC West Player of the Week. Veronica Jones led HSU with 14 points, including a 10-for-10 performance on free throws.
Lisa Martinez paced UMHB with 16 points and grabbed six rebounds. Michelle Latta added 10 points and Jennifer Gilchriest, who was held scoreless in 26 minutes, grabbed a team-high seven boards. Jessica Wurzbach chipped in seven points.
Hardin-Simmons 69, UMHB men 66
Things were going pretty well for the Crusaders for one half, as they shot 46.2 percent from the field and limited the Cowboys (4-9, 2-0) to 34.6-percent accuracy en route to a four-point lead after 20 minutes of play.
But then came in the second half, in which foul trouble, poor shooting, and lenient defense combined to doom UMHB.
“We just didn’t play well,” Crusaders coach Ken DeWeese said. “We needed three people to have decent games, but no one stepped up to take advantage of some opportunities. It was a joint effort.”
UMHB shot only 32.3 percent (10-for-31) from the floor after halftime and permitted HSU to fire at a 58.3-percent (14-of-24) clip.
Justin Hejl paced the Crusaders with 17 points and nine rebounds, and Brandon Gatlin added 10 points. Luka Durasinovic scored nine points in only 13 minutes, making all three of the field-goal attempts and all four of his free throws.
