TYLER, Texas – The McMurry University women's basketball team's youthful roster ran into a buzz saw versus nationally-ranked University of Texas-Tyler, 74-51, at the Herrington Patriot Center.  The loss dropped the War Hawks to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in the American Southwest Conference, while the No. 21 Patriots improved to 7-2, 2-2 in ASC play.
 
UTT led wire-to-wire.  The Patriots jumped out to an 8-0 advantage before McM got on the board on a Sham Hunter layup at the 6:18 mark of the first quarter. Tyler would hold a 28-12 cushion at the end of the first period.  The War Hawks played the Patriots even in the second quarter – with each team boking nine points – as the hosts took a 37-21 lead into the locker room.
 
The Patriots only gained a point on McM in the third stanza, leading 55-38, before extending McMurry's deficit in the fourth by out-gunning the visitors 19-13 in the final 10 minutes.
 
Senior Haley Welch led all scorers with 17 points, including going 9-for-13 from the free throw line. Welch also pulled down six rebounds and made a team-best three steals. She also passed off for two assists.
 
Teammate Skyler Reyna had a game-high eight rebounds.  Freshman Kaymee Howell added six points, burying a pair of three-point buckets.
 
Three War Hawks – Hunter, London Weilert and Reyna – each tallied five points.
 
As a team, McMurry shot 28 percent (17-60) from the field. Conversely, the Patriots hit 49 percent (28-57) from the floor.