ABILENE, Texas -   The McMurry University women's basketball team closed out calendar year 2017 on a sour note, dropping a non-conference home game to Southwestern University, 61-58, at Kimbrell Arena. The loss dropped the War Hawks to 6-5 overall, while the Pirates improved to 4-6 on the year.
 
The loss was the second-straight setback for McM, after having won its previous five outings.
 
The War Hawks kept matters close the early going, despite leading in opening half just once (at 7-6 in the first quarter). SU was on top 21-12 after the first stanza and led at the half, 30-21. The Pirates led by as much as 14 points in the third quarter - their largest lead – before McMurry made a strong second-half comeback.
 
McMurry trailed in the fourth quarter by seven points, 49-42, with 8:23 left to play. However, sophomore Skyler Reyna took matters into her own hands – literally – by reeling off three unanswered baskets in less than a minute. Add in a mid-range jumper from senior Sham Hunter and the War Hawks had finished off an 8-0 run, grabbing their first lead since the opening segment, 50-49, with 6:09 to play.
 
The War Hawks still led by a single point with 2:47 remaining after the three-point play by Hunter made the score 55-54. Down by a single point with just 16 ticks left on the clock, Reyna laid in what looked to be a late go-ahead bucket. However, instead of the make, Reyna was whistled for an offensive foul to wipe away the basket and give the ball over to the Pirates, who made their free throws down the stretch as McM was forced to foul.
 
McMurry's tenacious defense produced 14 steals for the afternoon, helping SU into 26 turnovers, which the War Hawks converted into 16 points.  But Southwestern was able to take control of the game thanks to its inside game. Of the Pirates 24 field goals made, no less than 20 came in the paint.
 
Reyna led a trio of double-digit scorers for McMurry by booking 18 points on an 8-for-16 night shooting from the field. Reyna also pulled down a game-leading 11 rebounds for her third double-double of the season.
 
Hunter also rolled up one of her patented all-around solid efforts. Hunter scored 15 points, hauled in six rebounds, had two assists and a block. She had as many steals on her own (5), than did the entire SU team.
 
Sophomore Sarah Doherty had her third double figure-points total in the last four games by tallying 11 points. Doherty had a team-leading four assists and made a pair of steals.
 
Rounding out McM's scoring was eight points from London Weilert, four from Monica Jones and two from Mackenzie Kimball. The Pirates bench had the upper hand on the War Hawks reserves, out-scoring them 21-6 for the afternoon.
 
The War Hawks travel to nationally-ranked Trinity University on New Year's Day (3 p.m.) in San Antonio. McMurry will return to American Southwest Conference play on Thursday (Jan. 4) when it hosts LeTourneau University. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.