Box Score ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University's women's basketball team picked off the American Southwest Conference West Division co-leader with its 60-42 victory over Howard Payne University at Kimbrell Arena. With the win, the War Hawks improved to 16-7 overall and 14-5 in the ASC.

The win also kept McM – currently in third in the ASC West – with a chance to climb to the second place position in the regular season finale on Saturday versus Sul Ross State.

McMurry raced out to a big lead in the first half with its smothering defense that forced 12 turnovers and produced nine steals by the War Hawks. McM also blocked three shots in the opening period.

By the time that the first-half dust had settled, the War Hawks had doubled up on the Yellow Jackets, 30-15.

McMurry kept up its intensity in the second stanza, leading by as much as 21 points with 4:46 left to play after a pair of free throws by Tory Salazar (13 points).

Salazar led a quartet of double-digit McM scorers by hitting 4-of-5 from the field, including going 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. Salazar also passed off for three assists.

Senior Celeste Belizario tossed in 12 points and made three steals. M.J. Vickers and Keshia Collins each tallied 10 points. Collins made the most of her night at the free throw line, hitting 7-of-9, after struggling from the field.

Collins also pulled down 12 rebounds for the double-double. She also had a game-leading six steals out of the War Hawks' 17 thefts as a team.

McMurry converted those turnovers into a total of 21 points.

Vickers missed a double-double by just one rebound