McMurry University's Lady War Hawks lost a 108-96 shootout to conference leader University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Saturday, Jan. 13 in Kimbrell Arena.
 

Coach Drew Long's team jumped out to a 10-2 lead just over two minutes into the contest with junior guard/forward Emily Holland (Mansfield, Texas) providing half the points. The opponent started waking up, but the home team stayed on a roll and had a 15-5 advantage about a minute later. McMurry won the first quarter 28-22.
 

The second stanza started unlike the first as the opponent, winner of 14 straight games, began pushing the gas pedal, but McMurry tried to keep up. Sophomore guard Kylie Flippin (Wichita Falls, Texas) made a two-point basket to tie the score 35-35 at the halfway mark. Thirty seconds later, junior post Katie Hale (Decatur, Texas) nailed a three-pointer and McMurry took the lead 38-35. Two baskets by Holland and two by sophomore forward/center Aryana Cleveland (San Antonio, Texas) and the score was 46-42 in favor of the Lady War Hawks.

The opponent led 53-48 at halftime.
 

McMurry got on the scoreboard first in the third quarter with a three-pointer by Flippin. The opponent then scored six straight points. Baskets by Cleveland, Flippin and Hale kept the Maroon and White in the game, but the opponent had an 8-0 run to start pulling away.
 

The Lady War Hawks were down 81-72 at the end of the third stanza. McMurry made a valiant attempt to remain in the contest through the fourth quarter, but the opponent was too stout.
 

Holland finished with 28 points, followed by Flippin with 25, Hale with 14 and Cleveland with 12. McMurry made 15 three-pointers as Holland was 6 of 9, Flippin was 5 of 6, Hale was 2 of 3, sophomore guard Helana Chadwick (La Vernia, Texas) was 1 of 2 and junior post Ashton Garner (Odessa, Texas) was 1 of 1. The Lady War Hawks were almost perfect at the free-throw line, converting 15 of 17 attempts. Flippin was 4 of 5, senior guard/forward Taya Bridges (Mesquite, Texas) was 3 of 3, Cleveland was 2 of 3, and Garner, Hale and Chadwick were all 2 of 2.
 

Cleveland recorded a double double as she also had 11 rebounds, four on offense and seven on defense. The Lady War Hawks stole the ball four times with freshman wing Gracie Garcia (The Woodlands, Texas), Holland, Hale and Cleveland each having a theft. Bridges blocked a shot. The lead changed hands three times and the score was tied six times.
 

McMurry, 11-5 overall and 6-2 in the American Southwest Conference, hosts LeTourneau University at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Kimbrell Arena.