LINCOLN, Neb.  – A back-and-forth battle that came down the minutes, the home team came out on top as McMurry University Women's Basketball fell in a hard-fought contest, 79-71, Saturday night at Nebraska Wesleyan.

The War Hawks (2-1) held a 58-57 lead at the end of the third quarter, but the Prairie Wolves (1-1) converted 14 free throws in the final quarter as they outscored McM 22-13.

McMurry dominated the glass, outrebounding NWU 58-37. The War Hawks had 23 offensive rebounds, leading to a 22-4 advantage in second chance points.

Two players recorded double-doubles for McMurry, as senior forward Skyler Reyna tallied 24 points while snagging a game-high 16 rebounds and freshman forward Destiny Mathews added 13 points with 11 rebounds.

The game featured 20 lead changes and a dozen ties, and neither team ever led by double digits. McM had the largest lead of the game at 27-18 in the second quarter after a layup by freshman forward Cassidy Melton. Melton finished with 12 points and four boards in her collegiate debut.

A free throw shooting contest broke out for much of the game, as the teams combined for 60 free throws on 48 fouls. McMurry shot 12-of-20 from the charity stripe.

McMurry scored 50 of its 71 points in the paint, as the War Hawks were able to get to the basket after breaking the NWU press. However, the War Hawks turned the ball over 31 times in the process, leading to 34 points for the Prairie Wolves.

Senior guard Sarah Doherty made the only triple for McM on the night, as the teams combined for just three makes beyond the arc.

McMurry stays on the road for its next two games, visiting Texas Lutheran and Schreiner next weekend.