Box Score ABILENE, Texas -  McMurry University women's basketball played Angelo State University close in the second half, but a slow start in the first period led to a 60-46 setback at Kimbrell Arena.
 
The loss dropped the War Hawks to 1-9 on the year, while the Belles improved to 4-5. It was ASU's second win over McM this season (also taking a 65-48 decision in San Angelo 10 days ago).
 
McMurry's only lead of the game proved to be on the opening bucket by Haley Welch, just 50 seconds into the contest. By the 9:38 mark of the opening stanza, then Belles had built up a 17 point cushion, 24-7.
 
But the resilient War Hawks refused to go away and began to chip away at the deficit. McM clawed to within eight points – 28-20 – with 2:36 left before the half, after a pair of free throws by Taylor Russell. McMurry would eventually go into the halftime locker room down by 10 points (32-22).
 
ASU was able to maintain its double-figure advantage throughout the second half.
 
The War Hawks' scoring woes continued versus the Belles, as the team was held below 50 points for the fourth-consecutive game. McM's shooting was also a lukewarm 30.8 percent (16-52) for the night. Conversely, ASU hit better than 42 percent (23-54) from the floor. The Belles' also rung up six blocked shots on the defensive end of the floor.
 
Senior Ashley Hesseltine came off of the McMurry bench to lead her team in scoring. Hesseltine was an efficient 4-of-7 from the field and 2-for-4 from beyond the arc, good for 10 points in just 17 minutes on the floor.
 
Sophomore Mishae Roper narrowly missed a double-double. Roper hauled in 10 rebounds and tallied nine points, shooting 4-of-5 from the floor.
 
Welch wrapped up her evening with eight points and two assists. Russell and Tayler Boroson each added seven points in the loss. Russell also had a nice game on the glass with nine caroms, as well as making a pair of steals.
 
McM will be back in action with a rare Monday afternoon game, when it hosts Mid-America Christian University at 2 p.m. MACU is currently ranked No. 6 in the nation for the National Christian College Athletic Association.