McMurry squandered a 20-point second half lead but was able to hold on for a 59-56 win over Mary Hardin-Baylor Saturday in the American Southwest Conference semi-final round. Tarra Richardson hit the go-ahead bucket with 1:09 remaining, stole a pass with 13 seconds left and Allison Nelson hit a lay up on an inbounds play from Amber Horton with seven seconds left to seal the victory.
The win puts McMurry in its fourth-straight ASC Championship game and will be looking for its second conference title Sunday against No. 2-ranked Howard Payne.
McMurry led 42-22 early in the second half before the Lady Crusaders stormed back and nearly stole the game. Stacie Urbina hit a 3-pointer with 1:47 remaining to put UMHB up for the first time of the game at 56-55. However, on the ensuing possession, Richardson hit a 12-footer in the paint to re-gain the lead.
The Lady Crusaders couldn't convert on the other end and were forced to foul. However, Amber Horton's free-throw attempt failed and UMHB re-gained possession. On the other end, UMHB couldn't get the inbounds pass in and Richardson stole the pass from Sasha Monreal. The Lady Crusaders fouled Dominique Brown and she missed both free throws. However, it wouldn't matter because McMurry retained possession with an offensive rebound and Nelson put the nail in the coffin with the lay in.
Mallory McAdams couldn't get her 3-point attempt off at the other end and UMHB's season ended with a 15-12 record.
McMurry improved to 24-3 on the season matching last year's win total, which is second best in school history. Richardson finished with her 39th career double-double with 23 points and 10 boards. She was also credited with four blocks and three steals. Maigen Sawyer added 14 points including four 3-pointers to help Richardson in the scoring effort and Nelson added nine points.
McMurry shot 39 percent from the floor and held UMHB to 37 percent. McMurry almost shot itself in the foot with a 8 of 22 performance from the free-throw line while the Lady Crusaders converted on 15 of 17 free-throw attempts.
Monreal had 14 points to lead UMHB in the losing effort and Landie Thompson added 10 points. UMHB out-rebounded McMurry 51-35, but McMurry was able to hold on.
McMurry will try to make the third time a charm Sunday at 2 p.m. Howard Payne defeated McMurry both times this season and Sunday will mark the third time in the last four years the teams have met in the ASC Championship game – McMurry hasn't defeated HPU in the championship game.
