Box Score

ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University's women's basketball team could not overcome a slow start versus Heartland Conference leader Lubbock Christian University, falling at home, 85-70.

The Lady Chaps (15-1, 10-0 HC) held a 44-28 halftime cushion, as the visitors shot nearly 46 percent (10-22) from the field and made good on 21-of-23 free throw tries in the opening stanza. However, in the second half it was another story as the War Hawks (2-14, 2-7 HC) out-scored LCU by a 42-41 count.

McM stayed close to Lubbock Christian for the first seven minutes, trailing by just four points, 14-10 at the 12L57 mark. A 13-0 run by the Lady Chaps over the next five minutes extended the deficit to 17 points, 27-10.

LCU – which has defeated its opponents by an average of 23 points per game this season – built its lead to 23 points by the 16:04 mark of the second half. But by the 11:21 mark of the second period, a trey by McM senior Jaryn Koenig cut the difference to 11 points, 57-46.

But McMurry could not get any closer down the stretch versus the Heartland Conference frontrunner.

McMurry was led by 14 points from senior forward Keshia Collins, who scored eight in the second half alone. Collins also grabbed four rebounds, gave off two assists, made five steals and had one block. She hit 6-of-13 from the floor in her 27 minutes of court time.

Sophomores Sierra Maykus and Ana Dominguez, along with junior transfer Adijatu Disu, tallied 10 points, apiece. Disu also had five rebounds and a block, while Dominguez pulled down four boards and notched her team-leading 18th blocked shot of the year.

McMurry's Taylor Russell led all rebounders with seven and scored seven points, as well.

LCU held a huge advantage in free throw points for the game, making 29-of-33 attempts, compared to a 7-for-12 day by the War Hawks from the line. The Lady Chaps had a 40-30 points-in-the-paint margin and led in points off of turnovers (32-21).

McMurry will look to snap its current five-game skid when it travels to the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith on Thursday (Jan. 23/5:30 p.m.).