SHAWNEE — Not many teams can say they kept close and even led the No. 2 nationally ranked junior college women’s basketball team.

Connors State can, but the Cowgirls struggled in the closing minutes in losing 78-67 to the Arkansas-Fort Smith Lady Lions in the NJCAA Region II championship on Sunday at Oklahoma Baptist University’s Noble Complex.

The Cowgirls, ranked No. 15 in the national poll, ended their best season since 1999 at 28-5.

Connors led twice, the last time at 60-59 with 6:53 remaining in the game and tied it three others.

However, the Lady Lions (31-1) advancing to the national tournament in Salina,, Kan., prevailed by outscoring the Cowgirls 9-2 in the final 3:35 of the finale.

“Our kids played their rear ends off,” Connors coach Eddie Kite said. “That was a good game but for the last three minutes, we couldn’t score. You’ve got to put the ball in the hole.

“But I can’t fault my kids. They played hard and took it right at the No. 2 team in the country. They just came up a little short.”

Gabrielle Rosiji gave the Cowgirls their last lead at 60-59 on a layup.

Then, Tanisha Smith, ranked as one of the top juco prospects in the nation, and Katorra Lewis combined for seven of the closing nine points for UAFS, which swept Connors in their three meetings.

The Cowgirls tied the game at 21-21, 23-23 and 44-44.

Louis Whorton, the veteran UAFS coach, knew his team had to battle to pull out the victory.

“It was a heck of a game,” he said. “It was a hotly contested game between two teams with a lot of physical talent. We didn’t shoot the ball well, but their defense had a lot to do with it. We found a way to win.”

Smith finished with 19 points and Lewis added 17. Elisa Shoate chipped in 13 for the Lady Lions.

Ricshanda Bickham, who collapsed during the game with stomach muscle cramps, led the Cowgirls with a game-high 27 points while making all 10 of her free throw attempts.