HONOLULU, Hawaii --- Linfield women's basketball (7-2, 1-0 NWC) earned their third-straight win, taking down McMurry, 54-51, in the first game of the Hoops in Hawaii Classic. 
 
McMurry scored the first basket of the game, but Miki Vermeulen grabbed her own rebound on the next possession, tying the game back up right away. Later trailing by three, Allie Mead, Eve Burke, and Tana Hoekema went on a 9-1 run to put Linfield ahead by five, capped off by a Burke three. A defensive battle, McMurry cut the deficit to one a pair of times, where Linfield led 13-12 at the end of the first quarter.
 
Both offenses broke through to begin the second, trading buckets to a 17-17 tie. Following a 90-second scoring drought and yet another tied score, Hoekema and Vermeulen got to work in the paint, giving the 'Cats a 25-19 lead, their largest of the first half with 1:21 remaining. The Hawks were able to make a three on their final possession of the half, making it 25-22 Linfield at the break.
 
Linfield forced 10 total turnovers in the third quarter, most of which helping to hold McMurry scoreless for the first 3:19 of the quarter, helping the Wildcats take a seven-point advantage; scoring twice on fast breaks. Up until the final 20-seconds, McMurry had just two baskets in the quarter, while Jordan Roberts had two baskets herself, executing an and-one in the process. The Hawks converted a three-point play of the their own to end the third quarter, cutting the 11-point lead to just six with 10 minutes to play.
 
Amelia Solt got on the stat sheet in the fourth, sinking a three to halt the Hawks comeback momentarily ending the Wildcat's scoring drought. Halfway through the final quarter, McMurry was able to erase the Linfield lead, tying the game up at 42-42 with 5:46 to play. Roberts and Skylar Willey put the 'Cats back on top, with Roberts scoring seven of nine points down the stretch. 
 
With 15-seconds left, McMurry trailed just 53-51, Solt sank one of two free throws to put Linfield ahead by three. The Hawks could not execute two late shots from beyond the arc in the closing seconds, helping Linfield capture their third-straight win, 54-51.
 
Jordan Roberts led the 'Cats in scoring with 12 points on 5-6 shooting from the field; most of which coming in the second half. Although Linfield made just three shots from beyond the arc and were limited offensively, the defense slowed the Hawks, forcing McMurry to turn the ball over 16 times. 
 
The Wildcats close out the 2025 half of the season tomorrow afternoon in Honolulu, taking on Knox at 3:30 p.m. HST
 
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