Abilene, Texas – The Belhaven University women's basketball team dropped a 77-74 decision on Thursday afternoon against McMurry University on the road to open American Southwest Conference play.

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INSIDE THE MATCHUP
 
Final: McMurry 77 | Belhaven 74
 
Records: McM (1-5) | BU (1-3)
 
Location: Kimbell Arena | Abilene, Texas
 
Get Social: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram  | @BelhavenBlazers | www.blazers.belhaven.edu
 
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HOW IT HAPPENED

- Belhaven and McMurry exchanged baskets for the majority of the first quarter.

- After being down 12-6, the Blazers fought back to gain the 15-14 advantage over the Warhawks with 2:38 left in the first frame.

- McMurry went on a 5-2 run to close out the first quarter holding on to a 19-17 lead.

- Brittany Ford drained a bucket from behind the arc early in the second quarter to narrow the lead to 21-20.

- Over the next few possessions, the Blazers and the Warhawks went back and forth until Lauren Brooks tied up the ballgame at 24.

- The Warhawks went on an 8-2 run to bring the score to 32-26 with 3:25 remaining until intermission.

- The Green and Gold closed the gap after a 3-pointer by AaLiyaha Thornton to bring the score to 34-32.

- McMurry held on to the 39-36 advantage going into the halftime break.

- Lauren Brooks scored the first three points for the Blazers to open the third quarter.

- After a made layup from McMurry, the war hawks pushed their lead to seven to make the score 46-39.

- McMurry did not let off of the accelerator extending their lead to 10 points with 2:30 remaining in the third quarter.

- The Blazers could not find any rhythm in the third quarter as the Warhawks ended the third quarter with a 12-point lead.

- The Blazers outshot the Warhawks 26-17 in the fourth quarter.

- After being down by 12, the Green and Gold rallied back to narrow the lead to 70-68, with 4:13 remaining in regulation.

- The Blazers' comeback rally fell short, falling 77-74 to the War hawks.
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KEY STATISTICS
 
- There were three Blazers to score double-digits and 10 players to score during the game.

- Lauren Brooks led the Blazers, recording her first double-double of the season. Brooks tallied 21 points, 11 rebounds, one block and one steal in the contest. Additionally, the senior shot 80 percent from the floor.

- Alexis Caldwell was one rebound shy of a double-double, posting 10 points and nine rebounds.

- Kimberly Calhoun was the third Blazer to score in double digits, earning 10 points, four rebounds, and two assists.

- AaLiyaha Thornton had seven points and had team-high four assists.

- As a team, the Green and Gold shot 40.3 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from behind the arc.

- The Blazers had 44 points in the paint and 25 points from the bench.
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UP NEXT
 
The Blazers will remain in Abilene, Texas to take on Hardin-Simmons on Saturday, December 1. The first tip is set for 1:00 p.m.
 
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