Cooksey, Lady Aggies down ACU

GAME BOXSCORE >>

ABILENE, Texas (Jan. 3) -  Sophomore Brittany Cooksey poured in a game-high 29 points on Saturday, leading the Cameron women's basketball team to a 71-64 victory over Abilene Christian in Lone Star Conference Crossover action.

Cooksey also led all players in the game with 11 rebounds, helping Cameron improve to 6-4 on the season.

Cameron continues LSC crossover action on Monday, visiting Angelo State University for a 6 p.m., tipoff in San Angelo, Texas.

Coach Dick Halterman's squad took control of Saturday's contest early, using a 21-5 run to take a 15-point lead midway through the first half. The Lady Aggies shot better than 53 percent from the floor in the opening period, including 6-of-8 from three-point range. Cooksey did most of the damage for Cameron. The former LSC North Division Freshman of the Year was 5-of-8 in the first half, including 3-of-4 from behind the arc, and already had 17 points and seven rebounds at the break.

The Lady Aggies also limited ACU's Lynsie Blau to just two points in the first half and entered the locker room with a 44-27 lead at intermission.

Cameron's lead grew as large as 17 early in the second half, when sophomore Melisa Steen connected on a jumper to make it 46-29 at the 19-minute mark. But Abilene Christian refused to fold. Blau rallied for 14 second-half points and cut the Cameron lead to just six with a pair of free throws with 1:43 to play.

The Wildcats got within five on a free throw by Leah Wilson, but Cooksey and Steen each picked up key defensive rebounds in the final minute and Cooksey iced the game with a steal and a pair of free throws in the closing seconds.

Senior Danelle Ladd came off the bench to chip in 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting for the Lady Aggies. Kimberle Woods added nine points, while Steen and Chelsea Turner each scored six.

Blau finished with 16 points to lead ACU. All-conference forward Melanie Carter added 15 for the Lady Wildcats, who fell to 4-5 on the season with the loss.