BELTON, Texas - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team dropped an 87-78 contest to No. 16 Hardin-Simmons University Thursday evening in Belton. The loss dropped the Cru to 11-4 on the season and 6-2 in American Southwest Conference action while the Cowgirls improved to 13-2 overall and 8-0 in league play.
 
Arieona Rosborough opened the game with a pair of jumpers for the Cru. Ashley Faux added one more shot before the Cowgirls tied it at 6:22. The game played within two points for the duration of the quarter with Hardin-Simmons up 18-16 after the frame.  
 
The Cowgirls opened the second half with an 8-0 run, holding UMHB scoreless until the 7:52 mark when Arieona Rosborough hit a pair of foul shots to bring the advantage back to single digits. UMHB cut the lead to four twice before the Cowgirls extended again, going into halftime with a 45-37 advantage.
 
Rosborough led the Cru with 12 points while Kenna Gibson added eight. UMHB shot 41.2 percent in the half with 14 field goals. UMHB scored eight points off eight turnovers, adding 20 points from the bench in the first two quarters.
 
The Cru outscored the Cowgirls 17-15 in the third quarter, shooting 40 percent from the field. UMHB fought hard in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to just two points with 4:48 left to play. Parris Parmer responded for Hardin-Simmons with a pair of fouls. The Cowgirl defense held the Cru scoreless more than 1:30 at the end of the fourth quarter, securing the 87-78 win.
 
Rosborough led the Cru with 22 points, followed by Kenna Gibson with 12 and Lauren Baker with 11. UMHB out-rebounded the Cowgirls 44-39 in the contest and forced 16 turnovers with 10 total steals. UMHB shot 40.5 percent in the contest with 32 field goals while Hardin-Simmons saw a 52.9 percentage with 27 field goals.  
 
UMHB continues the five-game home stand on Saturday, January 14^th in a 1 p.m. contest against McMurry University at the Mayborn Campus Center in Belton.