LAWTON, Okla. -- Despite another career-high night from Maighan Hedge, the Aggie women failed to complete the comeback bid against Midwestern State and falling 82-77, their second loss to their rival this week.
 
The Cameron Aggies took the floor in front of a packed house on Saturday afternoon for part two of the Red River Rivalry looking to wash the bad taste of Wednesday's heartbreaking loss to the Mustangs out of their mouth. The Aggies controlled the game against Midwestern State in part one of the Red River Rivalry on Wednesday holding a steady double-digit lead for most of the contest. Third-quarter turnovers doomed the Aggies as CU blew a 14-point lead in Wichita Falls, Texas
 
Looking to even the season series and snap a two-game losing streak to the Mustangs and get back to a .500 record within the Lone Star Conference. The Cameron Aggies would have to rely on reigning Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week Maighan Hedge, who is putting together a solid case to earn the honors against this week after a 28-point outburst on Wednesday.
           
Head coach Emma Andrews deployed her now trademarked full-court press at the Mustangs in the first quarter, and it flustered Midwestern State into a three-minute-long scoreless streak to start the contest. MSU adjusted to the scrappy play-style of the Aggies and built an eight-point lead at one point in the first quarter on the back of 10 first-quarter free throw attempts and five turnovers for the Black and Gold in the first frame.
           
CU cut the deficit down to just three points by the end of the first frame and weathered the storm of their early shooting woes. The Aggies shot the 3 ball at just a 22-percent clip and only improved to 31-percent from the floor. Still, though, their defense and rebounding efforts kept them in the contest.
           
The shooting struggles continued for the Aggie offense, seeing the Mustangs build back a nine-point lead by the media timeout in the second quarter. The Aggies failed to score until the four-minute mark in the second frame. With a minute left in the second half, the Aggies had a chance to turn the tide, despite their stifled offense, the Aggies defense kept them in the game long enough for Ava Battese to break out of her 0-for-7 three-point slump and pull CU within three late in the second quarter. A buzzer-beating three by Karley Miller pulled the Black and Gold within a pair at the break, shifting the momentum fully to the Aggies.
           
The Mustangs went on a 7-3 scoring run to start the second half forcing the Aggies to yet again battle back. They did just that. The Black and Gold pulled within just one point of the Mustangs with under a minute left in the third quarter. CU closed the period with a huge three from star senior Battese to knot the game up at 56. On the final possession of the half, the Mustangs sent Hedge to the line. She would put the Aggies up by two points heading into the fourth quarter.
           
The two teams went back-and-forth throughout the final ten minutes of the contest, seeing the lead change three times in the period, but the Aggies could not complete the comeback of MSU.
           
Hedge posted another career-high effort tonight going for 32 points toppling the mark she set last Saturday of 30 points. In the last two weeks, the sophomore guard has scored 109 points and placed herself as the leading point-getter within the Lone Star Conference. The Melbourne, Australia native has earned a 23 points per game average during conference play, and a 20-point average overall. Of the Sophomore sensation CU head coach Emma Andrews said: "She's a special player."
           
Up next for the Aggies, who are now 5-11 overall, 4-6 in conference play, and 1-3 against division foes, they make their first trip to Ft. Smith to take on UAFS for the first time as conference and division foes. That matchup is set for Thursday, Jan. 23, at 5:30 p.m.