BRENHAM, Texas — The No. 15 Blinn College women’s basketball team (2-0) topped McLennan Community College, 80-76, in the Buccaneers’ home opener Monday night in the Kruse Center.
With the win, Blinn holds a 2-0 overall record.
“My kids competed and made plays late, so I couldn’t be prouder,” head coach Jeff Jenkins said. “I have seven sophomores who came back from a 25-win season, but I also have the three best freshmen I have seen in a long time. Kameryn Lewis, Chynell Mitchell, and Telisha Brown made a lot of big plays in their first home game.”
Freshman Brown led the Buccaneers with a season-high 18 points, sophomore Hailey Atwood followed with 17, sophomore Briauna Johnson scored 10, and freshmen Mitchell tallied nine. Freshman Lewis and sophomore Deja Adrian each came up with six points in the win.
“We have learned to stay up and stick together as a team, so I feel like that is what made our team strong today,” Mitchell said. “We heightened our energy in the third quarter and our defense stepped up to the plate. Being a strong defensive team helps us a lot.”
McLennan came out strong and led the Buccaneers at the end of the first three quarters. Blinn’s Johnson led the offense in the opening quarter with two 3-pointers to keep the game close. However, the Highlassies went on a 10-2 run in the final two minutes to take a 27-16 lead.
In the second quarter, McLennan built its lead to 40-24 with less than two minutes on the clock. The Buccaneers were able to come back and score the final six points leading into the half. Blinn’s Atwood and Keaundra Eddings hit back-to-back 3-pointers for the Buccaneers to trail 40-30 at the halfway mark.
Atwood led the Buccaneers with eight points in the third quarter as Blinn outscored McLennan 21-14. Atwood sunk two straight 3-pointers for Blinn to trail 53-47. With less than two minutes to go, Brown scored the final four points of the quarter for Blinn to trail 54-51.
Mitchell kicked the final quarter off by scoring the first five points for the Buccaneers to tie the game 56-56 with 9:20 left. Brown sunk two straight 3-pointers to put the Buccaneers ahead 62-58. McLennan went on a 7-0 run to pull back ahead 65-64 with less than six minutes left. The lead alternated until Atwood hit a 3-pointer for Blinn to lead 78-76 for good with 1:32 left. Strong defense and free throw shots by Atwood and Brown allowed the Buccaneers to finish the game with an 80-76 victory.
Next, the Buccaneers will travel to face off against Cisco College on Wednesday, Jan. 27, at 5:30 p.m.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 41 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.
