BIG SPRING, Texas - The South Plains College Lady Texans fell to 4-2 in Western Junior College Athletic Conference play Thursday night falling to Howard College 62-55.  South Plains is now 17-5 overall on the season.

Much of the first half was tight with six lead changes in the first fifteen minutes.  With 5:08 to go in the first half the score was tied, 16-16.  Unfortunately for the Lady Texans, Howard College was able to go on a 14-2 run to end the half with the score 30-18.


The first twelve minutes of the second half was played pretty evenly with the Lady Texans still trailing by eleven points.  With 7:13 to go in the game Chasity Workman made a layup to pull South Plains to within nine.  Forty seconds later sophomore post Taniqua Ards threw a pass to Dayon Hall-Jones who nailed a three pointer to make the score 46-40.  After Howard College converted a field goal to extend the lead to eight, Taniqua Ards converted twice on the other end, making it 48-44 with 4:29 to go in the game.  Rachel Gray then fouled Howard's Patricia Malouff, who went to the charity strip and converted both free throws.  On the other end of the court Dayon Hall-Jones nailed another big three and was fouled on the attempt to set up a four point play, which she converted to pull the Lady Texans within two with 4:06 left in regulation.  The Lady Hawks were not about to give up as they answered with a clutch three pointer of their own to build a five point lead.  With 3:34 to go Taniqua Ards scored the last of her game high 18 points to again narrow the Lady Texan deficit.  Rachel Gray was sent to the charity stripe and missed a free throw with less than three minutes left on the clock.  Dayon Hall-Jones pulled down her only rebound of the game and converted a basket, making the score 53-52.  With neither team scoring for the next ninety seconds Howard's Clarissa Krum converted her final field goal of the night to extend her teams lead to three.  South Plains would once again narrow that lead to two points before running out of time and falling for the second time in three games, 62-55.

Lubbock native Taniqua Ards once again led the Lady Texans in scoring with a game high of 18.  Dayon Hall-Jones add 14, while Chasity Workman recorded a double-double with ten points and tied a season high with 14 rebounds.  

The Lady Texans will look to rebound when they face New Mexico Junior College on Monday in Hobbs, New Mexico.  Head coach Michelle Wyatt will be looking for her 100th career win as coach of the Lady Texans as she boasts a career record of 99-12.  South Plains and New Mexico are scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. (MST) tipoff and the game will be aired live on KLVT 1230 AM and www.hprnetwork.com.