HOUSTON, Texas – Playing its second-consecutive game versus an NCAA Division I opponent, McMurry's women's basketball team lost at Houston Baptist University, 69-49, at Sharp Gym.
 
The War Hawks fell to 1-12 on the year, while the Huskies improved to 5-4.
 
The two teams traded buckets in the early going, with five ties and six lead changes in the first 14 minutes of the game. The Huskies forged ahead, 20-12, with 11:40 left in the first half of play. But McMurry would hold the hosts scoreless the next seven minutes, producing a 9-0 run of its own to take the lead at 21-20 on a Haley Welch jumper with 7:22 remaining in the half.
 
HBU continued the streaky scoring sprees, closing the half by out-scoring the War Hawks, 16-2, to give the Huskies the 36-23 half time advantage. McM coach William Milton found the War Hawks' situation further complicated with three players – Welch, Mishae Roper and Arielle Bermudez – all picking up three first-half fouls.
 
The Huskies upped the margin up to 21 points – 57-36 – by the 7:04 mark of the second half. But McM senior Ashley Hesseltine would score all five of her points for the game within a 49 second span. She canned a three-point basket with 5:24 left to play and – after a steal by Welch led to an Adijatu Disu layup – dropped in a pair of free throws that brought the War Hawks to just 12 points down, 57-45, and 4:35 on the game clock.
 
But the Huskies bit down on McM the rest of the way, finishing the game with a 12-4 run to thwart McMurry's upset hopes.
 
McMurry found itself out-rebounded by a 48-26 margin, including 18 offensive boards by HBU. The result was the Huskies booking 18 second-chance points (to eight for McM). Once again, the War Hawks' depleted bench (just nine players in uniform), was out done, as well, 26-8.
 
Welch led McMurry with 12 points and a game-leading four steals. Disu and Taylor Russell each finished the game with 11 points. Disu added a pair of blocks, as well.
 
Russell, who made just one field goal, was 9-for-10 from the free throw line. Russell also had eight rebounds to pace McM on the glass.
 
Bermudez tallied six points and six rebounds before fouling out. Roper also fouled out.
 
The War Hawks will next play at Trinity University in San Antonio on December 28.