The victory pushes the top-seeded Buccaneers (30-2) into the regional title game for the second consecutive season and sets up a rematch against fifth-ranked and second-seeded Trinity Valley after the two teams battled for the tournament championship one season ago. Blinn will look for a result similar to the 2022 outcome, which saw the Bucs top the Cardinals and move on to the NJCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship tournament. Blinn takes on Trinity Valley at 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 11, in Tyler, in what will be the third meeting of the two teams this season. Each team owns a win in the series.
Securing their berth in the title bout took a little extra effort from the Bucs, as fifth-seeded Panola stayed within striking distance until the very end.
“We survived and advanced,” Blinn head coach Jeff Jenkins said. “We played solid defense and made just enough plays offensively to move on. I’m proud of our girls for getting their 30th win of the season.”
The Bucs led 19-14 after the first quarter but the Phillies clawed within 28-25 by halftime. The margin remained slim as Blinn carried a 42-38 edge into the fourth period.
Leading the way for the Bucs was sophomore forward Tiffany Tullis, who recorded her 26th double-double of the season with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Sophomore guard Crystal Smith followed with 11 points, while sophomore guard Skylar Barnes had eight. Sophomore guards Hannah Humphrey and Allana Thompson finished with seven points apiece.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
Securing their berth in the title bout took a little extra effort from the Bucs, as fifth-seeded Panola stayed within striking distance until the very end.
“We survived and advanced,” Blinn head coach Jeff Jenkins said. “We played solid defense and made just enough plays offensively to move on. I’m proud of our girls for getting their 30th win of the season.”
The Bucs led 19-14 after the first quarter but the Phillies clawed within 28-25 by halftime. The margin remained slim as Blinn carried a 42-38 edge into the fourth period.
Leading the way for the Bucs was sophomore forward Tiffany Tullis, who recorded her 26th double-double of the season with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Sophomore guard Crystal Smith followed with 11 points, while sophomore guard Skylar Barnes had eight. Sophomore guards Hannah Humphrey and Allana Thompson finished with seven points apiece.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
