ABILENE, TX:  The Texas Wesleyan University women’s basketball team (4-6) suffered a 92-71 loss at the hands of Hardin-Simmons University (7-2, Ranked 2nd in NCAA III South Region) on New Year’s Eve.

Hardin-Simmons jumped out to a 17-5 lead just over five minutes into the contest and maintained a double-digit lead until a pair of free throws by Britney Helton cut the margin to eight at 31-23 with 6:26 to play in the first half. 

With just under four minutes to go, HSU led 38-27, but a jumper from Tiffany Hill, two free throws from Sheleatha Simmons and a layup from Hill closed the gap to five at 38-33.  However Hardin-Simmons would take a comfortable 46-35 lead to the locker room.

Outstanding shooting by the Cowgirls would prevent the Lady Rams from closing the gap back to single digits in the second half, and HSU came away with a 92-71 victory.

Hardin-Simmons out shot Texas Wesleyan 48%-34% and out rebounded the Rams 58-41.

Four Lady Rams reached double-figures in scoring.  Helton scored 17 while Simmons and Hill each contributed 12 points.  Melissa Myers also score 10 points for the Rams.  Hardin-Simmons’ Melissa Henley and Sonya West led all scorers with 18 points a piece.  West also brought down 15 rebounds.