BASKETBALL: Lady Mustangs drop road contest to SA Cole

San Antonio Cole outscored Nixon-Smiley, 23-13, in the second half to break open a one-point game as the Lady Cougars defeated the Lady Mustangs, 43-32, at Cole in a district contest on Friday, Dec. 17.

Nixon-Smiley (9-10, 1-1 in District 26-3A) jumped out to an early 8-4 lead after a couple of baskets by Natalee Mendez. Cole tied the game at 8-8 and the Lady Mustangs got another score to take a 10-8 advantage after the end of the first period.

In the second period, the Lady Cougars scored the first four points to take their first lead at 12-10, but Criselle Stansel hit the Lady Mustangs’ only three-pointer of the game to retake the lead at 13-12. Cole scored four straight to make it 16-13. Nixon-Smiley would lead one more time in the game, at 19-18, before two late free throws gave the Lady Cougars a 20-19 halftime lead.

In the third period, Nixon-Smiley was able to tie the game at 21-21, but they would never get closer than one point again as Cole went on an 8-3 run to take a 29-24 lead at the end of three periods. In the final period, a 12-7 run by the Lady Cougars gave them a 41-31 lead that was insurmountable for the Lady Mustangs.

Mendez led the Nixon-Smiley with 12 points, while Greenlee Houseton had six. Abby Fox and Kendall Amaya each scored four points and Mady Velasquez and Stansel had three each.

The Lady Mustangs were scheduled to play at Comfort High School on Tuesday, Dec. 21, and then will return to action after the holidays when they host Luling on Jan. 4.