BELTON – McMurry handed East Texas Baptist just its second loss in 10 games, topping the Tigers, 67-56, in the UMHB Classic on Tuesday.
 
Trailing 30-27 at the half, McMurry blistered the nets in the third quarter for 27 points on 67 percent shooting.
 
"Proud of the effort and execution tonight," said McMurry head coach Drew Long. "We did a great job of following the scouting report. ETBU is a tremendous team. They are well-balanced, well-coached and are very physical on both ends of the floor. I thought we battled down low and did a good job of limiting their second chance points. We limited our turnovers and capitalized on some Late game trips to the free throw line. Proud of the girls and hope to carry the momentum in to tomorrow's match up with UMHB."
 
Emily Holland hit a jumper with 8:04 to go in the third quarter to give McMurry the lead for good, 31-30. The War Hawks led by as many as seven the rest of the quarter but never really broke free.
 
Helana Chadwick nailed a three-pointer for McMurry's first 10-point cushion with 5:54 left in the game. The lead peaked as 12 points on a jumper by Aryana Cleveland a minute later.
 
Holland led the War Hawks with 17 points while Cleveland added a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Chadwick added 15 points and Ashton Garner came off the bench for 11.
 
Holland and Kylie Flippin had four steals apiece.
 
The War Hawks get back to the court at 4 p.m. on Wednesday at UMHB.