ABILENE, Texas - Despite a slow start in the first quarter, the East Texas Baptist University women's basketball team took command of the game and ran to a 76-59 win over McMurry University. For the first time in three seasons, ETBU opens their campaign at 7-0.

A well-rounded game in scoring, ETBU had only two players score double-figures with Hanna Hudson leading with 11 points while Mollie Dittmar added 10 points. Mallory Stephens (nine points) and Grace Stephens (seven points) combined for 16 points while Kaia Williams added eight points. Taylor Singleton produced six points, six rebounds, and three assists. McM was led by 16 points from Destiny Matthews. Taya Bridges scored 15 points while Trinity Meador added 12 points.

ETBU managed to outshoot the War Hawks in field goal percentage (45.0%-31.4%) although McM won both three-point shooting (25.0%-22.7%) and free throw categories (85.7%-77.3%). Outrebounding McM 47-35, the Tigers were successful in the paint with 44 of the 66 total points in the area. ETBU's bench outscored the War Hawks 42-8.

Although Hudson began things with a two-point shot, it was McM that had the upper hand early on as they would create a 10-6 cushion in spite of four points from Singleton (7:56, 7:18). Needing a boost, ETBU turned to their bench as they delivered a 16-0 run (5:55-0:49). The Stephens sisters of Mallory (2:59, 2:28) and Grace (5:55, 3:42) combined for nine points while Dittmar added four points (5:27-4:54). McM ended the run with a three to trailing 22-13 finishing off the quarter.

Bridget Upton would key ETBU's second quarter with two buckets (9:15-8:57) to lead 26-15. Five straight McM points brought the score to 26-20 (7:14) only to have ETBU respond with an 8-2 run (6:59) with Williams (6:11, 5:29) scoring five of those points. ETBU led 34-22 by that point before McM tallied six of the final eight points, which put ETBU up 36-28 at halftime.

The third quarter would see the Tigers take control scoring 22 points while holding McM to just eight. McM would cut ETBU's lead to 38-34 (7:53) only after Upton had scored the lone bucket in the first two minutes. From that point on, ETBU finished the quarter with a 20-2 run (7:55-0:00), including the final 16 points. Mallory Stephens (3:26-2:37) scored five of the points in the run while Hudson added four (4:56-1:33). The third quarter surge brought the Tigers a 22-point lead, 58-36.

The Tigers would be outscored 23-18 in the fourth quarter, but would get contributions from their supporting cast. Mycah McDonald led the scorers with four points while Erin Berry (7:30) and Paige Royal (1:54) added three-pointers. Dittmar would reach her 10th point of the contest (9:19). ETBU would grab their largest lead of the game at 25 points following a Kenidi White jumper (6:46, 67-42). The War Hawks would manage 17 of the final 24 points of the quarter to complete the game with a 17-point win by the Tigers.

ETBU will now face the other Abilene squad in Hardin-Simmons University as they have another big test against the undefeated Cowgirls on Saturday at 1:00 PM.