ABILENE, TEXAS – An eight-of-10 stretch at the charity stripe in the final 1:12 Tuesday, Nov. 15, lifted McMurry University to a third win in a row to begin the 2022-23 season.
 
As a jubilant Kimbrell Arena crowd celebrated the free throw parade that helped turn back a feisty attack from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics visitor, the University of Southwest, head coach Drew Long's squad continued to dig into school history. With the clock hitting zeroes in a 70-64 victory, it marked the first time since 2006-07 that the War Hawks program had begun a season 3-0.
 
USW made it anything but easy for their hosts. The Mustangs led by as many as six in the first half and kept it close to the finish, sparked by the gritty play of senior forward Sierra Smith. Smith's 23-point, 16-rebound double-double topped all scorers and rebounders.
 
Senior forward/center Destiny Mathews (Palestine, Texas) went toe-to-toe with Smith in the paint. She scored 20 points, grabbed five rebounds, and was nearly perfect at the line (five-for-six) to pace McMurry. Freshman guard Helana Chadwick (La Vernia, Texas) picked up her third straight double-digit total with 14 points, and fellow freshman backcourt mate Kylie Flippin (Wichita Falls, Texas) added 13 points.
 
The War Hawks conclude four in a row at home Saturday, Nov. 19. Game time against Austin College of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference is 5:30 p.m.