SEGUIN, Texas – The McMurry women are now just one more win away from clinching the American Southwest Conference West Division title as they knocked off Texas Lutheran, 85-64, Thursday night at Memorial Gymnasium.
The win pushes McMurry to 19-5 overall and 16-4 in ASC play as they wrap up regular-season play on Saturday at Schreiner University. On Jan. 17 McMurry rolled past Schreiner, 108-46, at Kimbrell Arena. If McMurry wins on Saturday they will host the ASC Women's Basketball Championship Tournament, which runs Feb. 27-March 1.
With nine minutes left in the game, McMurry held a slight 59-53 advantage before they closed the game on a 25-11 run to win going away. Aside from the last nine minutes of the game, the pesky Lady Bulldogs gave McMurry all they could handle as TLU remained within striking distance for most of the game.
The difference between the teams in the first half was production from the free throw line. McMurry finished the frame 13 of 17 (76 percent) from the line while the Lady Bulldogs went 4 of 6 (67 percent). The nine-point differential from the charity stripe proved to be huge as McMurry took an eight-point lead (41-33) into the break.
Much like the first half, the first 10 minutes of the second half proved to be a hard-fought and evenly matched contest. But McMurry poured it on in the final 10 minutes to secure the victory.
For the game, McMurry shot 52 percent from the floor (28 of 54) while the Lady Bulldogs mustered a 41-percent effort (23 of 56). McMurry won the battle of the boards as they outrebounded TLU, 42-32, and McMurry's pressure defense forced 28 Lady Bulldog turnovers.
McMurry senior guard
Amber Horton finished with a game-high 23 points on 8 of 12 shooting from the floor. Three other McMurry players joined Horton in double figures as senior forward
Ashley Stephens scored 13 points, senior forward
Allison Nelson added 12 points, and sophomore center
Anna Berthel chipped in 10 points (on 10 of 11 shooting from the free throw line).
The loss drops TLU to 7-17 and 5-15.
