Box Score Box Score

ABILENE, Texas – In typical McMurry women's basketball fashion, the War Hawks used a strong defensive effort to defeat East Texas Baptist Thursday night at Kimbrell Arena, 68-56. McMurry moved to 5-0 in American Southwest Conference play by holding the Lady Tigers to just a 30 percent shooting effort.

Rikeita Thomas scored 18 points and Keshia Collins' four steals and two blocks accompanied by 14 points led McMurry to a victory. As a team the War Hawks had 14 steals and scored 17 points off 20 Lady Tiger turnovers.

The War Hawks shot just 28 percent from the floor in the first half and held a seven-point lead at 26-19 at intermission. However, the War Hawks hit 14 of 33 shots and were 6 of 13 from beyond the 3-point arc in the second half.

Collins hit a career-high four 3-pointers on eight attempts and added four assists offensively to her all-around effort. Thomas shot 8 of 21 from the floor and added two steals on the defensive end. Off the bench Jamie Wilson added 13 points and was a perfect 6 for 6 from the free-throw line.

With 7:32 to play in the game, McMurry's Bridget Dorn hit a lay up on an assist from Tory Salazar to put the War Hawks up 54-37. At 17 points, that was the largest lead of the night, and from there the Lady Tigers chipped away at the lead with a 9-2 run capped by Erika Brown's two free throws with 3:47 to play.

However, from there eight points within the lead would be the closest the visitors would get. In the losing effort, Brown led ETBU with 13 point and 10 boards while Monique McElveen had 11 points off the bench. The Lady Tigers fell to 3-3 on the season and moved to 2-3 in ASC play.

The War Hawks improved to 6-1 overall and will take their 5-0 record into Saturday to play host to Centenary College at 1 p.m.