ABILENE, Texas – The McMurry women's basketball team will embark on what will be its longest stretch of road games of the season, when it faces Oklahoma Panhandle State University on Thursday evening (5:30 p.m.) in Goodwell, Okla.  The bout between the War Hawks and Aggies will begin a four-game swing away from Kimbrell Arena for the team.

McM (2-16, 2-10 HC) will also play games at Newman University (Saturday, Feb. 8/1 p.m.) in Wichita, Kan., a make-up game at Oklahoma Christian on Monday (Monday, Feb. 10/5 p.m.) in Edmund, and at St. Edward's University (Feb. 15) in Austin before playing at home again.

In OPSU, the War Hawks will be taking on a team which they have already defeated earlier this season, 67-53 on December 21, in Abilene. In that affair, sophomore guard Sierra Maykus had a career day, scoring 21 points (hitting 4-of-7 from beyond the arc) and pulling down eight rebounds. Senior guard Tory Salazar added 16 points.

The Aggies held McM's all-conference senior Keshia Collins below double digits (8 points) in the first meeting between the team. It was one of just three games – out of 18 this season – in which Collins did not record 10 or more points in a game.

OPSU (1-19, 1-13 HC) has struggled this season, as well. The Aggies did collect their lone win of the year over Arkansas-Fort Smith, just a couple weeks after losing to McMurry. Sarah Johnson has led the Aggies on offense (17.5 p.p.g.) and ranks third among the Heartland scoring leaders. Sharice Papaleo is tied for sixth in the league in rebounds at 8.4 boards per game.

McMurry's team last faced Saturday's foe - Newman University (11-10, 8-7 HC) - back on Dec. 19. The War Hawks dropped a tough home decision, 60-57, to the Jets at Kimbrell Arena. Collins and NU standout Alexandria Ciabattoni matched each other with 19 points apiece. Both teams shot above 40 percent in the game, with five more free throws made by Newman becoming the deciding factor.

Monday's date at Oklahoma Christian (11-8, 7-5 HC) will be a quick turnaround against a team that just defeated McM, 54-43, a week ago Thursday. Strong defense by both squads was the order of the day. The Lady Eagles out-rebounded McMurry by a significant margin (57-37). McM had seven blocked shots, while OC registered six and held Collins to five points.

McMurry will look to Collins to get back on track in what promises to be a challenging road trip. Collins averages 16.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, topping the team in both areas.

Collins had five of McM's blocks in the loss to Oklahoma Christian to lift the senior to a lofty place in the history of McMurry women's basketball.  As a testament to her all-around game, Collins became the only player in school history to record at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 250 steals and 75 blocked shots in a career.

Maykus checks in at 8.3 p.p.g., overall, and Salazar is at 6.4 p.p.g. Dominguez has given head coach Veronica Snow a solid 5.7 p.p.g. and 4.4. rp.g., while also leading McM with 22 blocked shots.