A layup at the buzzer wouldn’t fall for the 22nd-ranked Blinn College women’s basketball team as Kilgore College escaped with a 75-74 Region XIV victory Saturday at the Kruse Center in Brenham, Texas.
The Buccaneers (15-6, 5-2 Region XIV) held a 74-73 edge before the Rangers took the lead on a layup. Blinn then had an opportunity with 7.3 seconds to go, but a layup attempt banged off the rim as the final horn sounded to give Kilgore the win.
“We played really well offensively in the first half, but then in the third quarter we gave up 28 points,” Bucs head coach Jeff Jenkins said. “We have to correct our effort coming out of halftime and learn from our defensive mistakes in that third quarter. I give Kilgore a lot of credit because they made plays when they needed to.”
Blinn built a 20-15 lead over the Rangers in the first quarter and were ahead 40-32 by halftime. Kilgore then rallied for a 60-57 advantage in the third period.
Freshman guard Chelsy Singleton tallied a team-high 22 points for the Bucs. Sophomore guard Tianna Mathis followed with 12 points and freshman guard Wynter Jones and Ja’Nya Thomas had 11 and eight points, respectively.
Next up for Blinn is a region road clash at Jacksonville College at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6, in Jacksonville, Texas.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 45 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
