ABILENE, TX - The McMurry War Hawks women's basketball team showed incredible poise and resilience at Kimbrell Arena on Saturday afternoon, defeating the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor 62-60 to improve their season record to 8-2.

The War Hawks seized momentum early and maintained control for the majority of the contest, building a commanding lead that stretched to as many as 17 points early in the final stretch. The offense was clicking efficiently, as the team shot 45.8 percent from the field and 38.1 percent from deep. McMurry also capitalized on transition opportunities, scoring 16 fast-break points.

However, Mary Hardin-Baylor refused to concede, mounting a furious comeback in the waning minutes of the game. The visitors used a late scoring run to trim the deficit, narrowing the gap to a single possession in the final seconds. Despite the pressure, the War Hawks held their ground. Aryana Cleveland stepped up to the charity stripe with 17 seconds remaining and calmly sank two critical free throws to push the lead to five, effectively sealing the game despite a buzzer-beating three-pointer from the visitors.

The War Hawks' defensive effort was equally important, as they forced 20 turnovers and converted them into 18 points. While UMHB won the rebounding battle, McMurry's ability to execute on offense and get stops when it mattered most proved to be the difference.

Top War Hawk Performers

• Aryana Cleveland: Led the offensive attack with a game-high 20 points, shooting 7-of-15 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line, while also pulling down seven rebounds.
• Helena Chadwick: Played all 40 minutes and orchestrated the offense with a team-high five assists, adding 16 points on efficient 6-of-10 shooting and grabbing three steals.
• Jordan Bravo: A constant presence on the court for all 40 minutes, contributing 15 points, matching the team-high with seven rebounds, and dishing out five assists.
• Amaris Valadez: Provided a spark from the perimeter, knocking down 3-of-5 shots from three-point range to finish with 9 points.

Up Next

The War Hawks will face Centenary College in a conference clash at home next Friday, January 9th, at 7:30 pm.