MIAMI, OKLA. ---Connors State turnover with three seconds remaining was fatal for the Cowgirls Monday at Northeastern A&M as the Lady Norse escaped with a 51-49 Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference victory.
"That was a misfortunate turnover," said Cowgirls coach Jamie Fisher. "We have been having 20-24 a game and just 11 in this one. This is nothing really to hold our head down about this loss.
"We gave ourselves a shot to win the game at the end. And that's all we can ask for," said Fisher.
The loss dropped the Cowgirls to 5-8 in OCAC play and 18-9 on the year. NEO improves to 7-5 and 12-10.
Connors returns to league play Monday night against Northern Oklahoma-Enid at Melvin Self Field House.
De'Asia Reid led the Cowgirls scoring with 14 points with Chalynn Mayes adding 10 in the loss. NEO's scoring was led by Koreea Kirksey and Eliska Sstevbetakova with 11 points each.
Cowgirls trailed by nine points 34-25 at the 4:05 mark of the third quarter but battled back to within two points several times, before tying the game at 47- all on a bucket by Reid with 40 seconds remaining.
However, a pair of free throws by Ivana Murrillo put the Lady Norse back on top with 27 ticks remaining.
CSC elected to go for the last shot, but a turnover their 11th of the game proved costly.
Cowgirls trailed at the half 27-23 with the Lady Norse breaking a 19-all tie at the four-minute mark of the second quarter by outscoring Connors 6-2 for the halftime margin.
Connors largest lead of the half was five points 7-12 with 8:38 left in the second quarter.
NORTHEASTERN OKLA. A &M 51, CONNORS STATE 49
Connors State 15 8 11 15--49
Northeastern State 12 15 9 15--51
Connors State (5-8, 18-9)—Reid 14, Mayes 10, La. Wright 7, McCallister 6, T. Jones 5, J. Taylor 4, Crain 3.
NEO (7-5, 12-10)—Kirksey 11, Stebetakova 11, Diop 10, Murillo 8, Myles 5, Chivata 4, Brooks 2.