TYLER, Texas – The McMurry women survived a scare from a hot-shooting UT-Tyler team but pulled away late to win 81-78 for its eighth straight win Thursday at the Patriot Center. Amber Horton hit the game-tying and game-winning buckets and finished with a season-high 16 points on the night. Jabri Butler blocked the final 3-point attempt to force overtime by UT-Tyler's Lindsay Eaton to end the game.

Horton drove the lane on the left side of the court and tied the score at 78 with 1:35 remaining. After a missed field goal by the Patriots, Maigen Sawyer drew a double team and found Horton cutting back door and she connected with another lay up with 32 seconds left to put McMurry up 80-78.

UT-Tyler led much of the game, and Horton's bucket was only the second of the game for McMurry, but it would be all the visitors would need. The Patriots came out swinging in the first half and led 20-8 at one point thanks to hot shooting.

Though McMurry climbed back into the game, the Patriots' shooting effort never cooled. UT-Tyler shot 53.3 percent from the floor in the first half and finished the game at 52.6 percent. Melissa Thomas led the Patriots with 20 points, Marci Trogus scored 18 points and Eaton had 12.

Four players were in double figures for McMurry including Horton. Maigen Sawyer led with 18 points and was 3 of 6 from beyond the 3-point line. Tarra Richardson scored 16 points and Allison Nelson pitched in 11 points.

Despite beginning the game at just 1 for 9 shooting, McMurry rebounded to shoot 46.5 percent for the game. McMurry lost the rebound battle, but it didn't matter because the Patriots lost the turnover battle severely.

UT-Tyler out-rebounded McMurry 43-31, but McMurry had 13 steals to the Patriots' three and the home team had 26 turnovers while McMurry had a season-low 10. The 78 points was the most McMurry had given up this season with the previous high being 67 in the win over Mississippi College.

With the win, McMurry still remains unbeaten in the American Southwest Conference along with Howard Payne. No. 8 McMurry is 10-1 overall and 7-0 in league play while the No. 3 Lady Yellow Jackets are 12-0 overall and 7-0 in the ASC.

McMurry will travel just west of Tyler to face UT-Dallas in Richardson Saturday at 1 p.m.