ABILENE, TEXAS – McMurry's memorable 2022-23 season start looked to be running smoothly in the early going Thursday, Dec. 1.

Head coach Drew Long's War Hawks took the fight to an East Texas Baptist University side that received votes on the current D3Hoops.com top 25. To the pleasure of a vocal crowd inside Kimbrell Arena, the Maroon, Black, and White scored 13 of the first 18 points in the American Southwest Conference opener for both programs.

McMurry managed to reacquire a nine-point advantage in the second stanza, even with the Tigers punching back with a late first-quarter run. However, from the 9:16 mark of the second quarter to the end of the third frame, the home team answers were few, as ETBU took off on a 46-18 stretch and didn't look back, knocking the War Hawks from the ranks of the unbeaten 76-51.

Tough luck home shooting was at the forefront of the visiting decision. McMurry hit only five of 26 three-point attempts and was slightly over 33 percent from the field overall. East Texas Baptist managed to get its full-court game in motion with that factor going into a 42-28 margin on the glass.

The War Hawks talented sophomore-senior duo of forward/center Destiny Mathews (Palestine, Texas) and Emily Holland (Mansfield, Texas) led the home team scoring column. Mathews put up 15 to go with nine boards. Holland added 13, five assists, a blocked shot, and a steal. Freshman guard Helana Chadwick (La Vernia, Texas) was just off double figures with nine points due to a six-of-six outing at the charity stripe.

McMurry looks to even its league mark, hosting LeTourneau University Saturday, Dec. 3. Game time is 1 p.m.