The seventh-seeded Buccaneers (28-5) were outscored 26-13 in the fourth quarter as 23rd-seeded Jones advanced to the quarterfinals.
“Give Jones credit, they played hard,” Blinn head coach Jeff Jenkins said.
Blinn got off to a hot start early, leading 19-8 late in the first quarter behind a trio of 3-pointers from guard Hanna Humphrey. The Bobcats stormed back behind star forward Sakyia White (game-high 27 points) and guard Meloney Thames (24 points) and led 29-27 at the half.
A strong third quarter, fueled by nine points from freshman guard Skylar Barnes, put the Bucs back on top 52-51 heading into the fourth quarter.
Cold shooting hampered Blinn down the stretch, and after the Bucs grabbed a 56-54 lead early in the fourth period, Jones capitalized with a 23-9 run to end the game. On the night, Blinn shot just 30% from the floor (22 of 73).
Barnes paced the Buccaneers with 13 points, sophomore wing Deja Adrian finished with 11 points and 14 rebounds, and freshman forward Tiffany Tullis scored 10 points.
Jones guard Olivia Knight chipped in 10 points for the Bobcats.
(Pictured center: Blinn College head coach Jeff Jenkins)
Blinn’s season ends after the program captured its first-ever Region XIV championship, sharing the regular-season crown with fellow national-tournament qualifier Trinity Valley. The Bucs then won the Region XIV Tournament to earn an automatic bid for nationals, qualifying for the tournament for the third time during Jenkins’ 20-year run with the program.
“The kids played hard all, and I told them not to let one loss define them,” Jenkins added. “We did stuff this year that Blinn had never done before. I’m not sad because we lost, I’m sad because this was the last time I’ll ever get to coach this group.”
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
