Abilene, Texas – The Belhaven University women's basketball team downed Hardin-Simmons University, 68-60, in overtime to give the Cowgirls' their first loss of the 2018-19 season.
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INSIDE THE MATCHUP
 
Final: Belhaven 68 | Hardin-Simmons 60
 
Records: BU (2-3) | HSU (7-1)
 
Location:  Abilene, Texas
 
Get Social: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram  | @BelhavenBlazers | www.blazers.belhaven.edu
 
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HOW IT HAPPENED

- In the opening possession of the game, Brittany Ford drilled a bucket from behind the arc to take the quick 3-0 advantage.

- The Cowgirls caught an offensive spark and went on a 10-0 run to bring the score to 10-3 with 6:30 left in the first quarter.

- The Green and Gold closed the first frame strong closing the gap to just two points. Belhaven trailed Hardin-Simmons 14-12 heading into the second quarter.

- HSU opened the second frame going on a 6-0 run to extend the lead by eight points.

- Belhaven would not go down without a fight, as the Blazers knotted the game up at 24 with 1:37remaining until halftime.

- The Blazers took the lead back from the Cowgirls to make the score 27-25 going into the break.

- Hardin-Simmons closed the gap to one point at the 7:31 mark, but the Green and Gold held strong going on a 10-0 run to bring the score to 40-30 with 2:48 left.

- HSU finished the third quarter going on a 5-0 run to bring the score to 40-35 heading into the fourth quarter.

- The Blazers started slowly from the field to begin the final quarter of regulation.

- Hardin-Simmons tied the contest up at 46 after a jumper from Ryan Bush midway through the fourth quarter.

- Shots were exchanged from both teams for the next five minutes of action. When the final buzzer went off the score was 54-54 to force overtime play.

- AaLiyaha Thornton opened overtime with a jumper to make the score 56-54.

- With 1:53 remaining in overtime, the Blazers jumped ahead of the Cowgirls to take the 59-58 lead.

- For the rest of the overtime period, the Green and Gold finished strong ending the game with an 9-2 run to make the final score 68-60.
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KEY STATISTICS
 
- AaLiyaha Thornton led the Blazers with 24 points and four assists. Additionally, she tallied three rebounds, one steal, and was perfect from the charity stripe.

- Brittany Ford also was perfect from the free throw line and added 10 points.

- Alexis Caldwell had a total of 13 rebounds, two blocks, and two steals.

- Lauren Brooks collected a team-high 14 rebounds and tied for the team-high in blacks with two.

- As a team, he was 31.4 percent from the field and was 73.1 percent from the charity stripe.

- The Blazers had 26 points in the paint and 12 second chance points.
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UP NEXT
 
The Blazers will host Rhodes College on Tuesday, December 4 in the home opener. First tip is set for 5:30 p.m.
 
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