Box Score
ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University's women's basketball team got the last laugh in the final regular season game of the series – and 75th overall meeting - against Hardin-Simmons University, with a 62-59 win at the Mabee Athletic Complex. The win was the sixth-straight victory for the War Hawks (14-5, 12-3 ASC).

Keshia Collins' nine points in the first half helped the War Hawks to a 33-31 lead at the break. McM had four other players toss in six points in a balanced opening half scoring effort.

HSU was able to stay in the game early thanks to the play of Jasmine Lewis (19 points) off the bench. Lewis, with 14 first half points, matched the entire output by the Cowgirl starters in the first 20 minutes.

The War Hawks' largest lead of the period was seven points – 11-4 – after a rebound put-back basket and made free throw for a three-point play by Collins at the 15:14 mark. HSU led late, 31-29, before successive McM baskets in the waning seconds put the visitors up by two at the intermission.

McMurry held a commanding edge on the glass in the first half, lassoing 11 more boards (24-13) than did the Cowgirls. M.J. Vickers grabbed six first-half caroms. McMurry finished with 44-34 rebound edge in the game.

McMurry head coach Veronica Snow's team opened the second with five unanswered points to go ahead 38-31. The War Hawks upped that to a double-digit cushion at 54-44 with 5:50 left on a jumper from the free throw line by Collins.

But the Cowgirls were not yet ready to ride into the sunset.  Hardin-Simmons went on a 13-3 run over the next 4:44 minutes to knot the game at 57-57 on a jumper by Alexis Popelar with 1:06 left.

McM's Katlyn Tarbet (seven points) answered with a big three-pointer on the War Hawks' next possession to make it 60-57. The two teams swapped baskets as McMurry clung to the three-point lead, 62-59.

The Cowgirls had the final possession and a chance to tie with 23 tics left on the game clock. However, two desperation shots from beyond the arc both missed thanks to the tough McM defense that closed out the victory.

Celeste Belizario's 16 points led McMurry's scoring. Belizario hit 6-of-11 from the field and hauled in eight rebounds.

Collins finished the night with 14 points, three assists and three steals. It was her 18th double-figure scoring game of the season.

McM's Vickers led either team with 14 rebounds, her second-straight game with that total.