ABILENE, Texas – A game away from its American Southwest Conference slate did not provide much of a respite for the McMurry University women's basketball team in an 89-75 non-conference setback at Kimbrell Arena.  The War Hawks fell to 11-8 overall after losing to the Patriots (9-5), who are ranked No. 1 in the National Christian College Athletic Association Division II poll.
 
A slow start did in McM and gave the squad too big a mountain to climb with their second-half comeback bid, never managing a lead versus the top-ranked ABU team.  The War Hawks trailed 28-14 after one quarter and 51-32 at the intermission.  McMurry made a third quarter run that cut the deficit to 12 points, 65-53.  In the fourth stanza, McM kept chipping away and when Sham Hunter drained a three-ball with 2:35 left to play, the War Hawks were within six points, 81-75.
 
But that would be the War Hawks' final points of the game. The Patriots closed on an 8-0 run to secure the win.
 
ABU utilized its size and quickness to dominate the points in the paint, 46-12. The Patriots also took advantage of McM's miscues, converting its 21 turnovers into 33 points.
 
Isabel Carrion and Skyler Reyna both produced double-doubles in the loss. Carrion had 13 points and pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds in her 26 minutes on the court. She was just 2-of-8 from the floor, but went 9-for-11 from the free throw stripe.
 
Reyna posted her tenth double-double game of the season and eight in the past nine games, while running her streak of double-digit scoring to 12 games. Reyna booked 11 points and 10 rebounds, also making three steals. She delivered all of her points in the second half.
 
Sarah Doherty matched Carrion for McM's high scorer honors at 13 points.
 
Four players – Hunter, Chyna Washington, Dominique Machuca and Mackenzie Kimball – each tallied six points. Hunter matched Carrion with 12 rebounds, while also dishing three assists and making a game-high four steals.
 
London Weilert and Monica Jones each chipped in five points. Shabaria Walter added four to round out McM's scoring.
 
Next up for the War Hawks is a key ASC West battle at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor on February 1 (5:30 p.m.).