ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University women's basketball gave Wayland Baptist University – the NAIA's No.-24 rankled team - a much tougher battle the second time around, but in the end fell by a 91-69 score at Kimbrell Arena.
 
The last time that the War Hawks (2-7) and Flying Queens (5-4) met in Plainview a month ago, WBU buried McM by an 88-25 count. But this time around, it was a different McMurry team that stood toe-to-toe with Wayland Baptist.
 
McMurry stayed within striking distance for three quarters, before the deep Flying Queens bench helped the visitors pull away in the fourth. McM trailed by a 43-34 margin at the half. But the War Hawks began to wear down, thanks to WBU's depth that saw them hold a 49-7 cushion in bench scoring.
 
McM's turnovers also proved costly. WBU converted 22 War hawks' miscues into 27 of its points.
 
Freshman Amye Templeton had 19 points to lead the scoring, tallying 14 points in the first half alone. Templeton was 6-of-10 from the field – 5-of-9 from beyond the arc – in her 39 minutes of court time.
 
Senior Taylor Russell notched her sixth double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Russell finished by shooting 7-for-18 from the field. 10 of her points came in the second half.
 
Like Templeton, sophomore Sham Hunter went 6-for-10 from the floor and finished with 12 points, while also corralling six rebounds. Senior Sierra Maykus was McM's fourth double-figure scorer with 11 points, to go along with a season-high eight assists.
 
The two teams combined for 19 treys in the game. WBU went 11-for-33 from long range, while the War Hawks sharpshooters were 8-for-20 from three-point range.