ABILENE, TX – The McMurry War Hawks delivered their most impressive defensive performance of the season on Friday night, shutting down the conference-leading Colorado College Tigers in a 54-37 victory at Kimbrell Arena. Facing an undefeated SCAC opponent, McMurry didn't just win; they controlled the game from start to finish, holding the Tigers to a season-low 37 points.
It was a gritty, physical battle that McMurry won in the paint and on the glass. The War Hawks limited Colorado College to just 25% shooting from the field and didn't allow a single three-pointer on 21 attempts. The rebounding margin told the story of the night, with McMurry dominating the boards 49-36, denying the Tigers second-chance opportunities and frustrating their offense all evening.
Helana Chadwick carried the offensive load, pouring in a game-high 26 points. She was efficient and aggressive, hitting 10-of-24 shots, including three triples, and was perfect from the line. Chadwick played 37 minutes and did a little bit of everything, dishing out three assists and swiping two steals to spark the War Hawks in transition.
Jordan Bravo was an absolute workhorse, playing every second of the 40-minute contest. She finished with nine points but made her biggest impact on the glass, pulling down a career-high 15 rebounds. Bravo also hit three shots from deep and anchored the perimeter defense with two steals and a block.
Jordan Gillespie owned the paint defensively, matching the team's physical intensity with 13 rebounds of her own. While she only took two shots, her presence inside was vital, as she cleaned up 10 defensive boards and added two steals and a block to keep the Tigers from getting comfortable inside.
After a low-scoring first half where McMurry took a 26-16 lead into the break, the War Hawks blew the game open in the third quarter. They outscored Colorado College 22-9 in the period, shooting over 52% from the floor to build an unbeatable lead. The defense never let up, holding the Tigers to single digits in both the first and third quarters to secure the statement win.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Helana Chadwick led all scorers with 26 points and added three assists.
- Jordan Bravo grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds and played all 40 minutes.
- Jordan Gillespie controlled the paint with 13 rebounds and two steals.
- McMurry held Colorado College to 0-for-21 shooting from three-point range.
- The War Hawks out-rebounded the Tigers by a +13 margin (49-36).
UP NEXT
- The War Hawks return to Kimbrell Arena to host their next home game on Sunday, Feb. 8 at 2:00 p.m. ET. As they look to build on this momentum in their next SCAC matchup.
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