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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The pre-season all-American earned her stripes Friday as Tarra Richardson helped McMurry to a 70-60 season-opening victory over St. Thomas with 27 points, seven rebounds and five steals. The win was the first for McMurry under head coach Veronica Snow, who picked up her first career collegiate victory at Reid Gymnasium on the campus of Colorado College.

Richardson struggled at first hitting just four of her first 10 shots before halftime. However, the senior came out of the locker room in the second half and hit seven of her final eights shots. She was 5 of 6 from the free-throw line and had two blocks on the defensive end.

McMurry's defense was stellar the entire afternoon. St. Thomas managed just a 31 percent shooting effort for the contest. The team from Minnesota made just 6 of 28 shots in the first half and trailed 32-15 at intermission. The Tommies were better in the second half at 40 percent (12-30) and the team converted on 20 of 25 shots from the free-throw line in the second half.

However, the first-half deficit was too much to overcome. Neither team took care of the ball in the season opener for both schools. McMurry lost the ball 26 times to miscues while St. Thomas had 19 turnovers.

St. Thomas' Jessica Katch led the Tommies in the losing effort with 17 points and Sheena Porter had 11 points off the bench. McMurry's Maigen Sawyer had 11 points and five assists while Jabri Butler came of the bench and scored 10 points and added six rebounds.

McMurry let the Tommies go on a run in the second half and St. Thomas came within eight points of the lead. However, McMurry didn't let it get any closer.

St. Olaf College and McMurry will square off Saturday to close the round-robin tournament at Colorado College. St. Olaf's was 6-19 last season. The tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.