YUMA, Ariz. – The Arizona Western Lady Matadors Women's Basketball team's (13-6, 6-6) comeback attempt came up short on Wednesday evening, losing 52-40 to Cochise (17-3, 10-2) at the House Gymnasium.

Kristol Ayson scored 12 points and brought down seven rebounds to lead the Lady Matadors while Lime Okada scored 10 points and led the Lady Matadors with five assists.

The Lady Matadors opened up an early 6-3 lead after an Okada steal and score. Cochise cut the lead to 10-8 but the Lady Matadors closed the first quarter on a 6-2 run, capped off by an Alynna Palacios layup at the buzzer, putting the Lady Matadors in front 16-10 after one. After stretching the lead back to six points at 18-12 in the second quarter, the Apaches went on a 15-4 run to close the half, taking a 27-22 lead into the break.

Cochise scored the first eight points of the second half to push the lead to 35-22 before an Ayson layup stopped the run. The Lady Matadors were held to just four points in the third quarter, being outscored 11-4. Gretta Carollo pulled the Lady Matadors to within nine points with a three-pointer early in the fourth quarter, cutting the Apaches' lead to 40-31. Okada cut the deficit to five points at 42-37 with back-to-back fast break buckets. Cochise was able to hold off the Lady Matadors, finishing the game on a 10-3 run.

Maddison Zugna finished as the Lady Matadors' third-leading scorer, scoring eight points while grabbing four rebounds.

The Lady Matadors are back home on Saturday, January 28, when they host Scottsdale at 4:00 pm at the House Gymnasium. Tickets are $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for seniors (Over 65) and military. Arizona Western College students and employees get in free with AWC ID.