ABILENE, Texas – McMurry Women's Basketball looks to snap a four-game losing skid this weekend against the teams that started the drought, as the War Hawks host Mary Hardin-Baylor on Thursday, Jan. 30 at 5:30 p.m. inside Kimbrell Arena.
Two days following, McMurry will welcome another American Southwest Conference opponent in Concordia Texas on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 1 p.m. Immediately after Saturday's game, the university will honor its newest Hall of Honor members, namely the 2005-06 and 2006-07 women's basketball teams.
Saturday's game carries major implications in the West standings, as only one game separates McMurry and Concordia with eight games to go. Concordia currently possesses the third seed in the West, while McMurry sits in sixth just half-a-game outside the fourth and final spot.
LIVE STATS l LIVE VIDEO
RECORDS
McM: 9-8 overall, 2-6 ASC
UMHB: 14-3 overall, 7-1 ASC
CTX: 6-11 overall, 3-5 ASC
NOTES
LAST TIME OUT – The War Hawks were short-handed in non-conference action Tuesday night, falling 85-78 against Arlington Baptist on the road. The War Hawks played without Skyler Reyna due to sickness, failing to knock off the No. 1 team in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Division II polls.
SCOUTING THE CRU – Mary Hardin-Baylor comes in as the No. 16 team in the WBCA Top 25 poll and No. 13 in the D3hoops.com Top 25 poll. Since losing their only ASC game to UT Dallas on Jan. 4, the Cru have won five straight games and are tied with Hardin-Simmons atop the ASC standings. UMHB will seek season sweeps over McM and HSU this week behind top scorer Hannah Holt.
SERIES HISTORY VS. UMHB – With the win two weeks ago, UMHB owns a slight 31-30 advantage in the series. In games since 2000, McMurry owns a 23-16 record. The Cru have won seven of the last 13 in a tight rivalry, including the last four games. McMurry's last win over UMHB came on Jan. 13, 2018.
SCOUTING THE TORNADOS – Concordia has lost three of its last four games, including its last outing against UMHB last Saturday. Payton Berger is the team's leading scorer at an even 12.0 points per game, the exact number she scored against the War Hawks two weeks ago. Natalie Velardez scored 17 against McMurry in the last matchup.
SERIES HISTORY VS. CTX – McMurry leads the all-time series with Concordia by a tight margin, 30-29. The War Hawks have won three of the last five, including a season-sweep last season. McMurry won 71-57 the last time these foes played in Abilene.
ROES TO GLORY – With nine wins already and eight games in hand, McMurry is on pace for its best season under fifth-year head coach Brittany Desnman-Roes. Her best season at the helm came in 2017-18, as the team finished with 13 wins and Densman-Roes was named ASC Coach of the Year.
OUTSIDE GAME – McMurry has proven to be an outside team this season, shooting 29.4 percent behind the arc to rank fourth in the ASC. Defensively, the War Hawks are holding opponents to a league-low 23.1 three-point percentage, which ranks eighth in the nation.
WINNING THE BOARDS – The War Hawks have been powered by strong rebounding this season, ranking atop the ASC and 29th in the nation with 45.9 rebounds per game. Senior Skyler Reyna leads the ASC with 10.4 rebounds per contest.
REYNA RECORD WATCH – A four-year standout for McMurry, senior Skyler Reyna ranks second on the all-time career rebound list at 878. She also ranks fifth all-time with 1,316 career points. Reyna needs 45 points to move into fourth place in career scoring. Future McMurry Hall of Honor member Tarra Richardson Kersh (2004-08) holds both records with 1,015 rebounds and 2,164 points.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE VISION – Reyna is the only player in the ASC averaging a double-double with 15.9 points and 10.7 rebounds per contest. Her scoring ranks seventh in the conference, while her rebounds lead the league. Furthermore, Reyna is the only ASC player above 10.0 RPG.
YOUTH MOVEMENT – McMurry has 14 freshmen and one junior transfer on the 2019-20 roster, joining the returning senior duo of Sarah Doherty and Skyler Reyna. The average age of the team is 19.25 years old.
