Box Score

LAREDO, Texas – For the second-consecutive game the McMurry University women's basketball team held one of the Heartland Conference's top teams to its lowest point total of the season – this time versus Texas A&M-International University – only to suffer a four-point loss, 54-50. The setback dropped the War Hawks to 2-10 overall and 2-4 in the Heartland, while the Dustdevils improved to 11-3 overall and 7-1 in the HC.

Just last Saturday, McM held St. Edward's to a season low 55 points, but came out on the short end of a 55-51 decision.

"The defensive effort was our best of the year, no doubt," McM head coach Veronica Snow said. "We executed our game plan perfectly; we were able to switch defenses and the people who come in and help us do our rotation did an outstanding job.  I was well-pleased with our defense."

TAMIU jumped out to a 13-2 lead within the first nine minutes of the game. The War Hawks were able to do little to stop the Dustdevils, committing 11 of the team's 18 turnovers in that span.

"When you want to win so bad you try to do too much; that's where my two seniors were at that point," Snow explained.  "They truly were trying to lead and just got a little anxious. Those turnovers happen. We settled down and played a solid game after that."

But McMurry refused to succumb to the TAMIU pressure. From the 11:11 juncture of the opening period, the War Hawks would out-score the Dustdevils 18-7 the rest of the half to trail by one at the intermission, 21-20.

The second half was a slugfest, with three ties and six lead changes over the final 20 minutes. The biggest  advantage by either team was six points.

Trailing 47-45 with 3:08 remaining to play, McM's Sierra Maykus knocked the ball free on the defensive end. Teammate Keshia Collins picked up the loose ball and went the length of the court to knot matters at 47-47.

TAMIU's Jessica Woo drained a three pointer, 50-47, at the 1:22 mark.  However, on the very next possession, it was Collins coming through again. The senior forward scored on a driving layup and was fouled by Alexis Thomas, converting the free throw to once again deadlock the contest at 50-50 with less than a minute left.

The Dustdevils' Samantha Chacon (10 points) caned a short jumper with 36 seconds left and McM was unable to respond, as TAMIU would not trail again on its way to the 54-50 win.

Collins led all scorers with 20 points, hitting 8-of-15 from the field, as the only War Hawk in double digits. Collins also pulled down five rebounds, gave off two assists and made two steals.

Junior transfer Adijatu Disu contributed eight points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting night from the floor.  Ana Dominguez added two more blocked shots to up her team-leading total to 16 on the season, while also pulling down a team-high seven rebounds, as well.

As a team, McMurry hit 42 percent of its field goals (21-50), despite struggling from beyond the arc (1-15). TAMIU win the rebounding battle by a 41-29 margin.

The War Hawks will try to rebound on Saturday, when they travel to San Antonio to face St. Mary's University. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m.