Eagle women jinxed with 13

The Chadron State women’s basketball team completed their weekend road series against the New Mexico Highlands Cowgirls on Friday and Western New Mexico Mustangs on Saturday and added two more losses to make their record 4-13.

The Cowgirls, now 3-8 in the RMAC, were too much to handle on as they sailed to a decisive win over the Eagles by a final score of 83-68. Highlands came out strong in the first half, talking a 17-8 lead.

Chadron did not let up and chipped away points, cutting the margin 32-27 at halftime. Coming out of halftime, Rachael Smidt, sophomore guard of North Platte, sank 4 straight points and Sadie Waugh, sophomore forward of Paxton, hit a 3-pointer, making it a one-point game, but that was not enough.

Despite the Eagles’ efforts, the Cowgirls pulled away late in the half to claim the win, 83-68.

Kattie Ranta, redshirt freshman guard of Rapid City, S.D., scored a career-high 13 points while Smidt added 12. Kelsey Scott, junior guard of Douglas, Wyo., hit 9 points and grabbed six rebounds and both Jazmyn Webster, freshman guard of Cheyenne, Wyo., and Betsy Moler, sophomore guard of Rapid City, S.D., scored 7 points and snatched five boards.

The Mustangs, however, fought neck and neck with the Eagles on Saturday, until the second half when Western New Mexico mounted a substantial lead of 37-29 with 15 minutes to play in the period.

The Eagles fought back in the second half coming as close as 56-54, but couldn’t cut the lead. The Mustangs held the Eagles scoreless for over capitalizing on second chance points to secure their first RMAC win of the season.

Chadron made 35 persent of their field goal attempts off of 21-56 shooting, and the Mustangs also struggled with a 33.7 percent off of 23-61.

Western capitalized on long range, sinking 10 compared to Chadron’s two.

The Eagles will be competing for their first RMAC win Friday at home against Colorado State University-Pueblo. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.