McMurry University's Lady War Hawks lost a hard-fought showdown, 87-81, to crosstown rival Hardin-Simmons University Saturday, Jan. 6 in Kimbrell Arena.

The game pitted the Maroon and White, which was atop the American Southwest Conference standings for a month, against the team predicted in the pre-season to win the conference title.
 

Sophomore guard Helana Chadwick (La Vernia, Texas) put coach Drew Long's team on the scoreboard first in the contest that started going back and forth. She and junior post Katie Hale (Decatur, Texas) both had five points in the first quarter while sophomore forward/center Aryana Cleveland (San Antonio, Texas) contributed seven.
 

The Lady War Hawks led 19-18 at the end of the first stanza and went on a 7-0 run, with five points by Chadwick, to start the second. The opponent then responded with its first basket of the quarter, but junior guard/forward Emily Holland (Mansfield, Texas) countered with a three-point shot.
 

McMurry was ahead 29-24 halfway in the second quarter when the gym suddenly went silent after Hale, one of three HSU transfers on the home team roster, fell to the floor clutching an ankle. She returned to the bench a few minutes later. The opponent scored the game's next eight points, but Chadwick stopped the run with a three-pointer and added another one right before halftime.
 

The War Hawks were behind 39-37 at the break.

The opponent scored the game's first basket in the third quarter and McMurry answered with foul shots at the free-throw line from sophomore guard Kylie Flippin (Wichita Falls, Texas) and Chadwick. Two-point shots by Flippin, Chadwick, Holland, and junior post Ashton Garner (Odessa, Texas), another HSU transfer, helped keep the Lady War Hawks within striking distance.
 

McMurry entered the fourth quarter down 56-51 but wasn't going to be denied. Flippin connected on two foul shots, the opponent answered with a basket, Holland nailed a three-pointer, and the score suddenly became 58-56 HSU. The visitors got another basket and Garner answered with two free throws. The opponent, ahead 60-58, then went on an 8-0 run but Flippin made two free throws, and the score was 68-60. McMurry whittled the deficit down to four points with under five minutes left in the game.
 

Things then got interesting. Holland hit a three-pointer at the 3:21 mark and the score became 75-73 HSU. A free throw by Cleveland with 2:30 remaining closed the gap to 77-76 HSU. Cleveland made a two-pointer with 1:15 left to tie the score at 80-80. McMurry took the lead 81-80 with 45 seconds in the game on a free throw by senior guard/forward Taya Bridges (Mesquite, Texas).
 

The outcome wasn't decided until less than six seconds left on the clock because the opponent began making foul shots.

Chadwick led five players in double figures as she had 21 points, followed by Holland with 19, Cleveland with 14, Flippin with 11 and Garner with 10. Chadwick was a perfect 4 of 4 from three-point range and Holland made three attempts. McMurry was 21 of 28 at the free-throw line as Holland was 4 of 4, Garner was 2 of 2, Chadwick was 5 of 6, Bridges was 1 of 2, Cleveland was 2 of 4 and Flippin was 7 of 10. Bridges and Cleveland both had seven total rebounds, with each having one on offense and six on defense, while Chadwick added six, one on offense and five on defense. Cleveland had three steals, and Hale and Flippin each blocked a shot.