This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is senior basketball guard Maura McMurtry. On Thursday, McMurtry ended her Orange career in the second round of the 5A State Playoffs. On Tuesday, Orange defeated Havelock 57-23 in the opening round of the state playoffs. It was the second time in two years that Orange claimed a postseason win. Against the Rams, McMurtry had nine points, seven assists, five rebounds and four steals in her final game in Hillsborough. Last year, McMurtry helped Orange to its first playoff win since 2017 when the Lady Panthers defeated Swansboro 50-33. McMurtry led the team with 17 points against the Pirates. This season, McMurtry led the team with 3.7 assists per game. She had a season-high 20 points in Orange’s 76-36 win over J.F. Webb in Oxford. On January 9, McMurtry finished with 19 points as Orange defeated South Granville 70-54 in Hillsborough. In Orange’s Big 7 Conference opener, McMurtry shot 5-of-10 from 3-point range as the Lady Panthers defeated Cedar Ridge 65-36 at Panther Gymnasium. McMurtry spent four years at the varsity level. On the last two seasons, Orange has won 36 games and reached the final of the conference tournament twice. After she graduates in June, McMurtry will start her college basketball career at Division III Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.
