Hardin-Simmons, McMurry basketball going all-in on American Southwest Conference schedule

Though the Hardin-Simmons and McMurry basketball teams already have played one American Southwest Conference game, against each other, the conference season really gets underway this week.

Every Thursday and Saturday, for the most part, from now until Feb. 19 will be filled with ASC contests for the Cowboys, Cowgirls and War Hawks.

Ranked Cowgirls

In the latest d3hoops.com rankings, the HSU women came in at No. 10, up four spots from their No. 14 ranking in the preseason. In her fourth year, Kendra Hassell has the Cowgirls back on the national stage.

Last year, the HSU women broke into the rankings, going as high as No. 7, but that was with a limited number of teams playing. The Cowgirls won the regular season ASC title, but fell to Mary Hardin-Baylor in the ASC quarterfinals. They also lost to UMHB in the 2020 conference championship game.

Parris Parmer has been a catalyst for the Cowgirls this season, averaging a team-high 15.3 points, along with her game-winning 3-pointer against Trinity. Hallie Edmondson (12.3), Brittany Schnabel (11.7) and Samantha Tatum (9.0) also are back and helping lead the offense.

Newcomer She'Ray Wilson, a transfer from Ranger College, is adding eight points an outing.

The Cowgirls are off to a 6-0 start including a 71-52 win against McMurry in the true conference opener on Nov. 23.

Streaking Cowboys

The only blemish on the Cowboys schedule so far is a 72-69 loss against a Trinity team receiving votes in the Top 25 poll.

That came after HSU started the season 2-0 and they have won three-straight games since.

In the middle of that streak is a comeback, 92-83 overtime win against McMurry. HSU trailed by nine at halftime before forcing OT and win it in the extra frame.

Senior Steven Quinn leads HSU offensively with 17.2 points per game while Neal Chambliss (12.5) and Aidan Walsh (11.5) also average in double figures. Chase Cobb (9.5), Will Bartoszek (8.7) and Kyle Brennon (8.3) have also contributed offensively.

In fact, it was Bartoszek who helped the Cowboys come back against McMurry, scoring 25 points and being named ASC Men's Basketball Player of the Week.

HSU has made three-straight ASC tournaments after missing out in 2018 following back-to-back tournament titles. A last-second shot ended HSU's upset bid of top-seeded Ozarks in last year's semifinal after losing in the 2020 quarterfinals.

The Cowboys took the No. 3 seed out of the West all the way to the conference championship game in 2019 before falling to UT Dallas.

McMurry men searching for consistency

The early part of the season has been a bit of a rollercoaster for the McMurry men.

The War Hawks beat Schriener 99-96 in a barnburner to open the season, but then lost their next four. But they were close, falling to Southwestern by three and HSU in overtime.

But McMurry bounced back to beat George Fox 84-83 before an exhibition at ACU.

McMurry will lean on its experience that is carrying the offense early in the year. Michael Imariagbe leads the way with 16.8 points per game while both C.J. LeBlanc and Remy Minor are scoring over 15 points.

The War Hawks made the ASC tournament in 2019, its first year being eligible again after moving back to Division III, but have missed out the last two seasons. They will try to get back into the postseason with a more normal look to this season.

Struggles continue for McMurry women

Last season, the McMurry women started 0-14 before finishing 2-16.

It was the end for Brittany Desman-Rose, who announced she was stepping down to spend time with her family.

The War Hawks brought in Drew Long from ACU to serve as the interim head coach, but the results haven't followed.

McMurry is 0-6 to open the season, but the first two games were tough losses. The War Hawks fell in overtime at Schreiner and then dropped their battle with Texas Lutheran by three the next day.

Destiny Mathews has picked up where she left off last year, though, averaging 16 points per game to go with 8.3 rebounds.

The War Hawks were young last year, and are again this season. There are eight freshmen and six sophomores on the roster, and no seniors.

Tipping off Thursday

Both teams leave Abilene to start the season. Hardin-Simmons goes to Belhaven on Thursday while McMurry is at East Texas Baptist, they switch opponents on Saturday.

Next week, they return home. McMurry hosts Mary Hardin-Baylor on Thursday while Concordia goes to HSU. They, again, switch opponents for Saturday's games.

Jordan Hofeditz covers Abilene high schools and colleges, Big Country schools and other local sports. Follow him on Twitter at @jhofeditz. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Hardin-Simmons, McMurry basketball going all-in on ASC schedule