ABILENE, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team survived an early cold spell and used clutch free-throw shooting in overtime to stun top-seeded Hardin-Simmons University 79-75 in the Quarterfinals of the American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament Wednesday in Abilene. UMHB advances to the ASC Semifinals with a 12-8 record. The loss ends the Cowgirls season at 16-5.
 
The game would go to an extra session tied at 65. The Cru scored the first four points of overtime and UMHB led 71-67 with 1:45 to play. Samantha Tatum converted an old-fashioned three-point play with 1:28 on the clock to cut the lead to one point. Hannah Eggleston made two free throws and Olivia Champion added one to put the Cru back up 74-70. Cheyanne Bonilla added another free throw to give UMHB a five-point lead with 27 seconds on the clock. HSU hit a pair from the stripe on the next possession to close to 75-72. Brooke Elliott added one free throw for the Cru and UMHB grabbed rebounds on the next two Hardin-Simmons possessions and iced the game from the line. The Cowgirls did hit a late three-pointer to cut it to the final margin.
 
UMHB made just one of its first nine shots from the field as the Cowgirls jumped out to a quick 10-4 lead to open the game. The Cru started to heat up and closed the first period with a 10-4 run of its own to make it 14-14 going into the second quarter. Eggleston opened the second quarter scoring with a jumper to give UMHB its first lead of the game. The Cru would stretch that lead 20-14 and the two teams traded buckets before Hardin-Simmons put together a 14-8 run to tie the game at 30 late in the second and the Cowgirls led 34-32 at halftime. UMHB shot 40 percent as team in the opening half while HSU hit 44 percent. The Cowgirls out rebounded the Cru 24-19 in the first 20 minutes but UMHB forced eight HSU turnovers.
 
The Cru was cold to open the second half, going four and a half minutes without scoring as Hardin-Simmons opened up a 43-34 lead at that point. UMHB would get back to within five to send it to the final period with HSU leading 49-44. Bethany McLeod's three-pointer pulled the Cru to within 51-49 one minute into the fourth and Eggleston's jumper tied it up on the next possession. Bonilla would hit a three to put UMHB back on top 54-53 with 7:32 left to play. The Cowgirls would tie it up at 57 with six minutes remaining. The two teams traded scores down the stretch and UMHB, playing for a last shot, turned the ball over to send the game to overtime at 65-65.
 
Eggleston led the Cru with 20 points and Kaitlyn Kollmorgen had a huge game with 15 points and 15 rebounds. Bonilla added 12 points and Taylor Kollmorgen pulled down 12 boards for UMHB on the night. The Cru shot 41 percent from the floor as a team and hit 68 percent from the free-throw line. UMHB also out rebounded HSU 49-47 and forced 18 Cowgirl turnovers.
 
Parris Parmer led Hardin-Simmons with 20 points and Brittany Schnabel chipped in 17. Kaitlyn Ellis scored 12 points and Tatum grabbed a team-best 10 rebounds. The Cowgirls shot just 37 percent as a team while going 4-19 from beyond the arc in the loss.
 
The Cru will now play UT Dallas in the ASC Semifinals on Sunday. The ASC Semifinals and Finals will be played at the Gallego Center on the campus of Sul Ross State University in Alpine on Sunday and Monday. The UMHB-UTD game is scheduled to tip off at 5:30 pm. Monday's Championship Game is set for a 6 pm start.