ABILENE, Texas – A third quarter rally by McMurry University's women's basketball team came up short and visiting Howard Payne University took a 78-68 decision at Kimbrell Arena.
 
The War Hawks (4-16) held the upper hand after the first quarter of play, 16-10. However, the Lady Jackets had a big second quarter and overtook McM, carrying a 40-27 lead into the halftime locker room.
 
HPU did a good job handcuffing McM's leading scorer – Taylor Russell - in the opening half of play, limiting her to four points.
 
But McMurry refused to go quietly, coming out on fire in the third quarter. In just a little under 3 ½ minutes, the War Hawks out-scored the Jackets, 15-3, drawing to within a single point (43-42).
 
Unfortunately for the hosts, it would be as close as they would get. HPU extended its advantage to double digits once again by the end of the period and maintained a comfortable margin the bulk of the fourth quarter, as well.
 
McMurry's second-half surge was led by Russell, who scored 14 of her 18 points in the final 20 minutes of play, leading all scorers.  Russell also had a game-leading 16 rebounds for her 13th double-double game of the season. She also dished off three assists and made four steals.
 
Junior guard Haley Welch added 16 points on a 6-of-13 shooting game from the field. Welch gave off five assists, had one block and two steals.
 
Sophomore Sham Hunter had a strong shooting game, hitting 6-of-8 from the floor on her way to a 14-point tally.  Hunter snared six rebounds and two assists before fouling out.
 
Freshman Jamie Flores came off of Brittney Densman-Roes' bench to chip in eight points, hitting 2-of-6 from three-point range. Fellow frosh Amye Templeton scored six points, Chelsie Lail four and Sierra Maykus two, rounding out the War Hawks' scoring.
 
McM will play its final home game of the season on Saturday (1 p.m.) versus Sul Ross State University.