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Terre Haute

Coverage of the women's
NCAA Tournament

2002 season

Hardin-Simmons 72, Guilford 71

ABILENE, Texas — Kendra Anderson scored 28 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, but Lauren Harris stole the show with a baseline jumper with four seconds to go as Hardin-Simmons rallied from a six-point deficit in the final 1:35 to upend Guilford, Saturday night in the Mabee Complex in front of 2,146 fans.

The win moves the Cowgirls (26-1) to the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight season. Guilford College finishes its campaign at 25-4.

“We were not going to lose on our homecourt,” said Harris. “We have too much pride for that to happen. We got the ball down low to Kendra (Anderson scored seven of the Cowgirls’ final nine points) and she proved why she is the player of the year. On the out-of-bounds play it was designed to get me a shot on the block but they sunk in, so I took it out a little deeper and I was open and let it fly.”

Anderson cut the Quaker lead to four at 69-65 at the 2:31 mark with a turnaround in the lane. Erin Beecham then hit a pair of free throws with 2:10 to go on the game to give Guilford its final points and a 71-65 leads with 2:10 to go.

After a Veronica Jones steal in the open court, Kendra Anderson was fouled and made the first free throw with 1:22 to play. Anderson missed the second but got her own rebound and scored to cut the Cowgirl deficit to 71-68.

Beecham then missed a 3-pointer that could have sealed the game for the Quakers. The Cowgirls got the ball back to Anderson, who hit a turnaround jumper in the paint to close the game to 71-70 with 34.8 seconds to go. The Cowgirls decided to not foul and play defense and Jones had the play of the game when she forced Erin Becham into a five-second call with 16 seconds to go in the game.

“I really did not know what the call was,” said Jones. “I knew I was up on her pretty good and she was just standing there. Everyone went crazy, but I didn’t know until I heard the ref say five seconds. My defense is why I am in the game. It is a lot better than my offense.”

Coach Julie Goodenough called a timeout to set up Harris’ dramatics.

“Our kids really dug deep to pull this one out,” said Goodenough. “Our girls kept saying it was not over and then they went out and executed down the stretch. It is a game that both teams played well enough to win. After last year, Guilford came in looking for some revenge and they were a much better team than last season (a 106-77 HSU win in the same round of last year’s playoff). My hats off to Barb and their team. They really played well.”

Anderson continued her claim for National Player of the Year with 28 points on 11-for-12 shooting, 18 rebounds, seven assists and four steals. She carried the Cowgirls on her back down the stretch.

“It was physical. I am glad I was able to score on the blocks, because I was having a tough time at the free throw line (6-for-15). Luckily I hit some free throws down the stretch and was able to get some looks late and Harris hit a big shot for us. It was not pretty, but we will take it.”

Guilford played an incredible game and executed their game plan to perfection.

“It was so rewarding for me as a coach to see our game plan, both offensively and defensively work how we planned it,” said GC head coach Barb Bausch. “Our girls goal all year was to get back to Texas and beat Hardin-Simmons. We were so close but they are the best team we have seen all year. They are the most balanced team and they play great defense.”

HSU will find out on Sunday where they will play DePauw next Friday in the Sweet 16.

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