ABILENE, Texas – McMurry Women's Basketball waited longer than it had hoped for its first win of the season, but behind the efforts of 17 players, the War Hawks celebrated a 65-41 win over Arlington Baptist inside Kimbrell Arena Sunday evening.

McMurry (1-17) trailed by two after one half, but turned on the jets in the second half and outscored the Patriots (0-9) by a 41-15 margin. The lead was taken over for good following an 11-0 run in the third quarter sparked by three consecutive triples by freshman Emily Holland.

Defensively, the War Hawks limited ABU to 18-55 percent shooting from the field (32.7 percent) and just 1-13 behind the arc (7.7 percent). McMurry shot 47 percent in the second half with 16 baskets, including four from downtown.

The War Hawks rolled out with a new starting lineup Sunday, consisting of Azallee Johnson, Jada Morris, Taya Bridges, Kristin Salas and Sidney McHenry, but utilized the entire roster with most of its points coming off the bench.

Holland led the charge with a career-high 24 points, shooting 9-15 from the floor and 4-9 behind the arc. Freshman Rylee Evans broke out a career game of her own, scoring 13 points in 22 minutes. She shot 5-9 from the field and 2-5 from downtown, one of which helped extend the lead in the third quarter.

Mainstay junior Destiny Mathews chipped in 13 points by going 5-10 from the floor, while pulling down a team-high eight rebounds. McHenry also had eight rebounds. Junior Valery Alvarado added seven points and two assists.

The win was McMurry's first under Interim Head Coach Drew Long, who took over the program right before the season in August.

McMurry looks to keep the momentum rolling back into conference play, as it travels to Clarksville, Ark. to face University of the Ozarks on Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 5:30 p.m.