The WNMU women's basketball nearly held on for the win against the New Mexico Highlands University Cowgirls Saturday night. The Mustangs held the lead nearly the entire game. It wasn't until the final 38 seconds that the Cowgirls saw their first lead. WNMU's Ashley Vigil (Albuquerque, NM, Sandia High School) was able to tie the game at 74 with two free throws, but an NMHU last-ditch effort at the buzzer gave the Cowgirls their first conference win of the season, 76-74. 

The Mustangs had a 32-25 advantage at halftime despite 12 first half turnovers. It was Vigils' 14 points and Audra Major's (Socorro, NM, Socorro High School, Midland Community College) eight rebounds in the first half that fueled the team to the seven-point lead at intermission. 

WNMU held a sizable lead for the first 15 minutes of the second half, but key NMHU offensive rebounds put the Cowgirls back into the game. With 1:59 left on the clock, NMHU drained a three to cut the lead to one, 71-70. 

Freshman Shatwa Morris (Las Cruces, NM, Mayfield High School) was fouled nine seconds later to put her on the free throw line. Missing the first, she hit the second to go up by two. Another missed NMHU shot followed by an offensive rebound and a put-back tied the game for the first time with 1:34 left to play. 

A WNMU turnover followed by an NMHU layup put the Cowgirls up by two. Vigil's free throws tied the game with 17 seconds left, but Briana Gholston's shot at the buzzer gave the Mustangs a loss. 

Vigil finished with 23 points. Major posted another double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds. Morris chipped in with 17 points. 

Click here for complete statistics.