ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' women's basketball team won its second straight game, defeating McMurry 68-61 in the crosstown showdown on Saturday afternoon at Kimbrell Arena at McMurry.
Kourtney Holyfield led the Cowgirls with 20 points, Kayla Brown had 13 points and eight rebounds and Jasmine McClellan had 12 points and six assists.
Taylor Russell led McMurry with 22 points and nine rebounds. Sham Hunter had 11 points and 11 rebounds and Haley Welch added 14 points.
The Cowgirls used a 9-0 run in the first quarter to take early control. HSU led 16-10 after the first quarter. The Cowgirls took their biggest lead of the first half at 29-21 on a McClellan jumper with 2:40 to play in the first half. McMurry then scored the final seven points of the quarter and HSU led 29-28 at halftime.
McMurry took a brief lead in the third quarter at 33-31, but the Cowgirls responded with a 14-0 run that proved to be the decisive moment in the game. Holyfield and Madison Spears started the run with back-to-back 3-pointers and Holyfield finished the run with back-to-back running jumpers.
HSU led 48-35 heading to the fourth quarter after a 19-7 overall advantage in the third quarter.
The War Hawks scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 48-43 with 8:03 to play. HSU then scored nine of the next 11 points and pushed the lead back to 12 at 57-45. McMurry had one more push that cut it to 66-61 but the Cowgirls closed out the game in the final minute.
HSU is now 7-11 on the year and McMurry fell to 4-13. HSU hosts Mary Hardin-Baylor and Concordia in ASC action next weekend at the Mabee Complex.
More...