AUSTIN, Texas – Three Tornados scored in double figures and the Concordia Texas women's basketball team nearly rallied from a 26-point deficit, but fell short to Hardin-Simmons 62-55 on Saturday inside Concordia Fieldhouse.

The Tornados got off to a slow start in the first half and faced a 26-point uphill battle after the Cowgirls' Hallie Edmondson made the fast break layup, extending their advantage to 38-12 with 2:36 left in the second quarter.

Concordia Texas scored the next five points and headed to the locker room at halftime trailing HSU 38-17.

In the second half though, the Tornados found new life, opening the third quarter on a 14-0 run to cut the deficit down to seven after Allie Garza knocked down a pair of free throws with 4:12 remaining.

Payton Berger, Natalie Velardez and Kennedy Donovan each had five points in the frame as CTX went 4-of-5 from behind the arc and outscored the Cowgirls 20-7. They headed to the final quarter trailing 45-37.

The Tornados outscored HSU in the fourth quarter as well, led by Havyn Perez, who scored seven of her 10 points in the period, but it was not enough as the comeback fell short, falling to the Cowgirls 62-55.

Berger finished the game with a team-high 13 points, while Perez nearly had a double-double with her 10 points and added six rebounds. Donovan finished in double figures for the third time this season, pouring in 11 points and had three steals.

Maxwell, meanwhile, had a tough shooting night from the floor, but tied for the team-high in rebounds, snagging six boards.

Concordia Texas will have a long layoff before welcoming No. 17 Mary Hardin-Baylor on Jan. 25 to Concordia Fieldhouse for a conference showdown at 1 p.m. In the teams' first matchup of the season, the Tornados nearly pulled off the upset in Belton, Texas, but fell 66-61 back on Nov. 19.