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ABILENE, Texas – The old adage of “it’s a marathon, not a sprint” was never more true than in the McMurry University women’s basketball, 76-61, win over University of the Ozarks at Kimbrell Arena. And as a result, the War Hawks (3-2, 3-0 ASC) remained perfect in American Southwest Conference play by dispatching the Eagles (1-5, 0-2 ASC).
Ozarks raced out to an 8-0 lead with 6:50 left in the first quarter and still held a 14-8 cushion at the end of the opening stanza. From that point on, however, things flowed in the War Hawks’ direction. McMurry out-scored the Eagles in the second quarter, 25-10, to take a 33-24 advantage into the locker room. Each team scored 19 points in the third period, before McM claimed a 24-18 differential in the fourth quarter. The War Hawks led by as many as 17 points midway through the third quarter.
It was a suffocating defense by McM which helped turn the tide. As a team, McMurry had 15 steals and forced the Eagles into 28 turnovers. The War Hawks converted the UO miscues into 30 points in the transition.
Junior transfer Monica Jones (South Bend, Ind./Elkhart H.S./Ranger J.C.) had a break-out performance for McM head coach Brittany Densman-Roes. After not scoring more than seven points in any game thus far in 2017-18, Jones erupted for 20 points to lead all scorers. She hit 8-of-16 from the field, also grabbing five rebounds and making four steals.
Jones was but one of five War Hawks in double-figure scoring who, collectively, accounted for 74 of McMurry’s 76 points in the game. Senior – and former Abilene High School product - Sham Hunter had her second double-double of the season with 18 points and 14 rebounds, with an all-around solid game. Hunter passed off for three assists, blocked three shots and had a pair of steals.
A trio of sophomores – Skyler Reyna (13 points), Kaymee Howell (12 points) and Isabel Carrion (11 points) - rounded out the quintet of McM players in double digits. Reyna hauled in seven rebounds and also made four steals, while Carrion had a game-high seven assists and also had four steals.
Britney Beaver had two points as the only other player to score for the War Hawks.
McM also dominated from long- range, connecting on seven three-point baskets (compared to just two by the Eagles). Howell was 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, with all of her makes coming in the War Hawks’ second-quarter blitz.
McMurry will next host the University of Texas-Tyler on Saturday. Tip-off at Kimbrell Arena is slated for 2 p.m.
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Ozarks raced out to an 8-0 lead with 6:50 left in the first quarter and still held a 14-8 cushion at the end of the opening stanza. From that point on, however, things flowed in the War Hawks’ direction. McMurry out-scored the Eagles in the second quarter, 25-10, to take a 33-24 advantage into the locker room. Each team scored 19 points in the third period, before McM claimed a 24-18 differential in the fourth quarter. The War Hawks led by as many as 17 points midway through the third quarter.
It was a suffocating defense by McM which helped turn the tide. As a team, McMurry had 15 steals and forced the Eagles into 28 turnovers. The War Hawks converted the UO miscues into 30 points in the transition.
Junior transfer Monica Jones (South Bend, Ind./Elkhart H.S./Ranger J.C.) had a break-out performance for McM head coach Brittany Densman-Roes. After not scoring more than seven points in any game thus far in 2017-18, Jones erupted for 20 points to lead all scorers. She hit 8-of-16 from the field, also grabbing five rebounds and making four steals.
Jones was but one of five War Hawks in double-figure scoring who, collectively, accounted for 74 of McMurry’s 76 points in the game. Senior – and former Abilene High School product - Sham Hunter had her second double-double of the season with 18 points and 14 rebounds, with an all-around solid game. Hunter passed off for three assists, blocked three shots and had a pair of steals.
A trio of sophomores – Skyler Reyna (13 points), Kaymee Howell (12 points) and Isabel Carrion (11 points) - rounded out the quintet of McM players in double digits. Reyna hauled in seven rebounds and also made four steals, while Carrion had a game-high seven assists and also had four steals.
Britney Beaver had two points as the only other player to score for the War Hawks.
McM also dominated from long- range, connecting on seven three-point baskets (compared to just two by the Eagles). Howell was 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, with all of her makes coming in the War Hawks’ second-quarter blitz.
McMurry will next host the University of Texas-Tyler on Saturday. Tip-off at Kimbrell Arena is slated for 2 p.m.
More...