ABILENE, Texas – Mikayla Johnson posted a career-high 14 points, but her performance was spoiled as the Concordia Texas women's basketball team fell 80-48 on the road to Hardin-Simmons on Thursday.
 
Johnson drained three shots from deep and shot 5-of-10 from the field, leading the Tornados in scoring with stellar play off the bench. The freshman guard also added three rebounds, another career high, and a steal on the defensive end.
 
The Tornados suffered an early deficit and were unable to recover, ultimately finishing on the wrong end of this contest despite a strong offensive showing in the third quarter.
 
The Cowgirls opened the game on a 15-0 run, halted by a drive and finish at the rim from Natalie Velardez at the 2:59 mark in the first quarter. Kennedy Donovan drew a foul beyond the arc and converted all three free throws, but the Tornados were unable to score any more points in the period. After one, CTX trailed 20-5.
 
In the second quarter, a free throw from Amari Grace and Johnson's first three-pointer brought the score to 25-9 with 7:43 remaining in the half. Allese Crutcher hit a pair of shots at the free throw line, cutting into the HSU lead, and Donovan drained a shot from deep to make it 33-14 with 3:21 on the clock. The Cowgirls ended the half on an 8-0 run, and at the break, the Tornados were behind 41-14.
 
Erin Toro opened the second half with a strong finish inside, but a 6-0 run saw the Cowgirls stretch their lead back out to 47-16. Later in the period, a pair of three-balls from Johnson along with a drive to the hoop from Havyn Perez gave the CTX offense a spark, as the Tornados finished the quarter with a 9-3 run behind a fast break bucket from Jennika Willis and free throws from Velardez and Taylor. Heading into the final quarter, the Tornados trailed 64-34.
 
Willis got the fourth quarter started with a basket in the paint, and finish inside from Johnson followed by a Taylor three pointer brought the score to 65-41 with 7:03 to play. Johnson and Willis each recorded another basket in the quarter, but at the final buzzer, the Tornados fell 80-48.
 
Willis tallied six points and six rebounds along with a pair of steals, and Taylor ended the night with six points and a pair of boards.
 
The Tornados will look to bounce back on Saturday as they remain in Abilene, Texas for an ASC matchup with McMurry at 1 p.m.