WBB falls to McMurry, but clinches ASC Tournament Berth

02/23/08

Belton, TX - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team could not hold on to a late lead and the Cru women fell to McMurry University 61-54 Saturday afternoon in Belton. UMHB still clinched a berth in the American Southwest Conference Tournament with Hardin-Simmons' 79-55 victory over Concordia Texas. The Cru women close out the regular season with a 14-11 overall record and a 12-9 mark in the ASC. McMurry improves to 22-3 overall and 19-2 in ASC play with the victory.

UMHB scored the game's first six points and led 30-22 with 3:52 left to play in the first half. McMurry closed the half with an 8-2 run to cut it to 32-30 at halftime. It would stay nip-and-tuck through most of the second half and the Cru women led 54-50 with 4:46 to go. McMurry shut down UMHB from there, scoring the final 11 points of the game to clinch the victory. Amber Horton scored seven of those points down the stretch with one basket and five free-throws in the decisive run.

UMHB shot just 24 per cent from the field in the second half and 31 per cent for the game. McMurry hit 35 per cent from the field. The Cru women out rebounded McMurry 53-38, but UMHB also turned the ball over 20 times.

Freshman post Landie Thompson was dominant inside for UMHB, outplaying McMurry All-American Tarra Richardson and finishing with 20 points and a career-high 21 rebounds. Kallie White added 11 points and six rebounds for UMHB. Horton led McMurry with 17 points and Richardson finished with 16 points and eight rebounds.

The Cru women will now advance to the ASC Championship Tournament for the third straight season. UMHB will take on ASC East Division Champion and tournament host U.T.-Tyler in an 8:00 PM first-round game Friday in Tyler.