McMurry University's future opponents in the American Southwest Conference this season got a serious wake-up call Thursday night, Nov. 30.

Coach Drew Long's Lady War Hawks are for real!

Playing a team that scrimmaged LSU in Baton Rouge in late October, the Maroon and White didn't flinch in knocking off East Texas Baptist University 56-53 in Marshall. Up until this week, ETBU had won 11 straight over McMurry dating back to 2017.

Three starters, Emily Holland, Kylie Flippin and Helana Chadwick, and reserve Katie Hale combined for all but two points for the Lady War Hawks. Holland (junior guard/forward from Mansfield, Texas) had 21 points, Flippin (sophomore guard from Wichita Falls, Texas) contributed 14, Hale (junior post from Decatur, Texas), added 10, and Chadwick (sophomore guard from La Vernia, Texas) chipped in 9.

Also helping with the historic win were Taya Bridges (senior guard/forward from Mesquite, Texas) and Ashton Garner (junior post from Odessa, Texas) with one point each.

Bridges led the team in rebounding with nine, three on offense and six on defense.

Neither team had a big lead throughout as McMurry narrowly won the first and third quarters 14 to 11 each and the opponent won the second and fourth. The score was tied five times and the lead changed hands five times. The Lady War Hawks had 18 fast-break points compared to the opponent's five.

McMurry was incredible at the free-throw line as Holland was 4 of 5, Flippin was 8 of 10, Chadwick was 3 of 4, Bridges and Garner were both 1 of 2, and Hale was a perfect 2 of 2. McMurry also was dangerous in the thefts department with 16 steals – six for Holland, three for Chadwick, two apiece for AbbeyRose Parker (freshman guard from Parachute, Colorado) and Flippin, and one each for Aryana Cleveland (sophomore forward/center from San Antonio, Texas), Bridges and Hale. Holland blocked three shots, Hale blocked two, and Flippin and Garner blocked one apiece.

The win was McMurry's first on the conference schedule. The Lady War Hawks are 4-1 overall. The opponent, which traditionally plays a stiff nonconference schedule, fell to 1-6 but those losses have been by seven points to the third-ranked team in the nation on its home court, nine points to the 12th ranked team and three points to the 18th ranked team.

McMurry remains on the road Saturday for a 1 p.m. tipoff at LeTourneau University in Longview. The Lady War Hawks return to Kimbrell Arena Dec. 7 for a 5:30 p.m. game with Sul Ross State University.