Cowgirls Fall to NOC-Tonkawa, Advance to Region II Play-in-Game

WARNER—Connors Cowgirls after falling to Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa 62-56 in an Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference clash Monday night at Melvin Self Field House will now advance to the Region II play-in-game.

Connors (13-16, 5-10) closes out the regular season Thursday night against Eastern Oklahoma State at home. Tip-off is 5:30 p.m.

The Cowgirls will play Arkansas Baptist Monday night in the play-in-game at Melvin Self Field. A time is yet to be determined. The winner advances to the Region II Tournament in Shawnee at Oklahoma Baptist University March 8-10.

Cowgirls could not overcome the Mavericks in the second half as they streaked to a 32-30 advantage in the third quarter breaking a 30-30 deadlock at the 8:00 mark, scoring eight unanswered points.

Connors never recovered trailing by as many as 11 point, and coming no closer than three points 59-56 with 40 seconds left.

The Mavericks then drained two of four free throws to ice the victory.

DeAuja Thompson led the Cowgirls scoring with 23 points with Sadie Carter adding 14 more.

Mavericks scoring was led by Sabela Reigusa with 20 points with Tahanee Bennell scoring 12 and Katilyn Hodgins adding 11 and Hannah Nealis 10.

NOC-Tonkawa held a two-point lead at the half 28-26 holding its largest lead of the opening 20 minutes six points, 24-18 at the 6:53 mark of the second quarter.

It was tied twice in the first half, with the Cowgirls last lead of the half and game coming with 8:00 left 18-16 on a pair of free throws by Bailey Pendley to snap a 16-all deadlock.

NOC-TONKAWA 62, CONNORS STATE 56

NOC-Tonkawa 13  15 23 11--62

Connors State 14   12 17  13--56

NOC-Tonkawa (11-15, 7-8)—Reugisa 20, Bennell 12, Hodgins 11, Nealis 10, Guyton 5, Hissam 4.

Connors State (13-16, 5-10)—Thompson 23, Carter 14, Pendley 9, McDonald 5, Godbold 2, Marshall 2, Jones 1.