ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University women's basketball debuted both its 2015-16 team – as well as its new head coach Brittany Densman-Roes – and enjoyed a 60-50 exhibition game win over visiting Dallas Christian College at Kimbrell Arena.
 
While the "W" does not count toward the War Hawks' record, what can't be discounted were several outstanding individual performances in this first outing by McM. One of those top-flight games came from the team's workhorse, senior Taylor Russell. Russell had a double-double of 16 points and 15 rebounds, hitting a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line.
 
Fellow senior Sierra Maykus also had an impressive night in her return to the Maroon & White.  Maykus – who played at McM as a freshman and sophomore, but left for her junior year – came back for her final collegiate season and matched Russell's 16 points versus the Crusaders. Maykus drained three treys in the game.
 
Newcomer Sham Hunter, a sophomore transfer from Ranger College, pulled down 12 rebounds and passed off for a game-high eight assists. Hunter had five points.
 
Junior guard Haley Welch hit 4-of-7 from the floor on her way to an eight-point night. Welch also had two assists and two steals. Kessha Bracy, a sophomore, came off the McM bench to chip in seven points.
 
Freshmen Karsten Pippins and Jordan Mazziotta each tallied four points in their McM debuts.
 
Dallas Christian actually held the lead at the end of the first quarter, 16-12.  A second quarter blitz by the War Hawks – outscoring the Crusaders 17-5 – gave the host War Hawks a 29-21 halftime cushion.  McM extended that advantage to 48-33 after three segments.
 
McMurry out-rebounded DCC by a 51-40 margin. However, the Crusaders took better care of the ball, with McMurry making 19 turnovers (to 10 for DCC).
 
The War Hawks will open the year for real on Monday (Nov. 16) at Wayland Baptist University. Tipoff in Plainview is set for 6 p.m.