BELTON, Texas – Despite a valiant effort Thursday afternoon, McMurry University Women's Basketball saw its season come to a close with an 80-64 loss to 16th-ranked University of Texas at Dallas in the quarterfinals of the American Southwest Conference at host University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
The War Hawks (8-18) kept within striking distance throughout the first half, but the Comets (22-4) slowly pulled away in the second half to hold on for the win.
McMurry cut the deficit to 61-52 with 5:37 to play in the fourth on a three by guard Brittany Rodgers, but UTD answered with a 7-0 run to stretch the lead back to double figures. The War Hawks got back within 11 with 2:28 left, but couldn't complete the comeback.
The War Hawks started strong in the first quarter, going toe-to-toe with the Comets, at one point grabbing a three-point lead before trailing by one at the end of the period. Rodgers gave McM the lead back at the start of the second, before UTD regained control on a 10-2 spurt.
Guard London Weilert answered with a three and a layup, and a steal by Skyler Reyna nearly brought the War Hawks within a possession at the break. However, the deficit stood at just 30-25. Guard Sarah Doherty hit the first bucket of the third quarter, but UTD then built their lead to double digits.
Missed free throws hurt the War Hawks, as they went just 19-for-32 at the line. The Comets controlled the glass, as well, 42-30.
Junior forward Skyler Reyna led McMurry with 21 points and 12 boards, racking up yet another double-double. Doherty and junior guard Isabel Carrion each had 10 points, respectively. Reyna and Doherty each had three steals, as well.
McMurry shot 38.5 percent from the floor, while the Comets shot an even 50.0 percent.
