Hardin-Simmons women come away with road win after downing Southwestern University in Georgetown
Looking to stay undefeated and hand Hardin-Simmons their first loss of the year, Southwestern hosted HSU Tuesday evening in Georgetown. Instead of Hardin-Simmons coming out of the contest with their first loss, it was SWU that found themselves notching their first loss of the young season as they dropped a 71-52 decision.
HSU was steady in the first half as they shot 45-percent from the floor with Mollie Brawner chipping in 10 points in over the first 20 minutes of play. She also had 4 rebounds and a steal to help HSU build their first half lead.
Despite committing 12 fouls in the first half HSU was able to build a 39-26 lead at the intermission. SWU was held to one three-pointer in the first half and shot 38% for the half. HSU was 5-of-12 on their 3-point attempts while shooting 45% over the first half of play.
HSU turned up the defensive pressure in the second half and that resulted in SWU missing several shots early in the second half. "It was our goal to hopefully apply some pressure on the perimeter and hopefully move our feet a little bit better," said Hardin-Simmons head coach Shanna Briggs.
As the HSU defense kept the Southwestern offense in check the HSU offense found their key to success in the second half and that came in the form of Lindsey Newcombe. Limited to six minutes in the first half because of foul trouble, Newcombe became a force down low in the second half. She racked up 13 points in the second half, two blocked shots, and 10 rebounds to help propel HSU to a commanding lead.
"You would hope she would be a force and I think that was the case in the second half," said Briggs. She got in foul trouble early on and she was able to adjust in the second half."
Natasha Azizi was able to continue her strong play from the first half for Southwestern as she added on to her first half total of 11 points by scoring 14 second half points. She was the lone bright spot on offense for SWU as evident by the 34% shooting from the field in the second half.
HSU was able to shoot 41% in the second half while out rebounding SWU by a margin of 28 to 19. Nine of the HSU second half rebounds were offensive.
It was a night where SWU struggled to find themselves offensively and HSU taking full advantage of their struggles as they went on to win in convincing fashion by a score of 71-52.
Azizi pulled down 13 rebounds to go along with her 25 points for her first double double of the season. Newcombe recorded a double double for HSU with her 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Even with a 19 point win HSU coach Shanna Briggs knows there is room for improvement. "I feel like for so early in the season we did some things really well and some things not so really well," she said.
