LAS VEGAS, NM- The Cougars opened up Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play with a road matchup at New Mexico Highlands to kickoff the month of December on Friday. In a battle to the end, CCU could not close out the game in a 74-73 loss to the Cowgirls. 

Maggie Phipps got the scoring started with an early three, and Dasiya Jones quickly added a three of her own to make it 8-5 early. Maggie Hutka and Phipps got jumpers to fall later in the quarter as the lead stretched to 15-10. A Hutka three late in the first sent the visitors to the second quarter ahead 23-17. 

Agnes Paul pushed the lead to eight with an early layup, while Phipps later made another three as the game tightened at 35-35. The Cowgirls hit a late basket as they led by two at 37-35 at the break. 

Intent on regaining their lead, the Cougars hit a trio of free throws and a layup from Paul to go up by five. The two teams battled from there, with Nicole Bowlin giving her team a seven point advantage with a pair of free throws. The two teams went to the final quarter with CCU leading 58-54. 

The defenses stepped up the final period, but halfway through the quarter it was CCU leading narrowly 67-63. Hutka stretched the lead to eight with a jumper, but a furious rally from NMHU ensued from there. Scoring 11 of the last 13 points of the game, the Cowgirls managed to steal the game by a final score of 74-73. 

Phipps led the offense with 19 points while Hutka poured in 18. Jones posted 13 points and Paul pulled a team high 12 rebounds. 

The Cougars will now head to CSU Pueblo for a December 2 matchup at 4 p.m. MST.