The top-seeded Buccaneers (29-2) move on to the semifinal round, where they will meet fifth-seeded Panola College at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 10, in Tyler. Panola defeated No. 6-seed Angelina College 59-54 in the first round, also Wednesday.
Blinn is eyeing its second consecutive region tournament title, as well as a return trip to the NJCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship in Lubbock, Texas. The Bucs took a step in the right direction with a decisive victory over the Jaguars.
“We had a really good defensive effort from all 11 of our players,” Blinn head coach Jeff Jenkins said.
The Bucs complemented their defense with an equally dazzling offense. Blinn drilled 17 3-pointers at a rate of 39% and shot 49% from the floor overall.
Freshman guard Amyria Walker paced the Bucs with 14 points, followed by a pair of 11-point efforts for sophomore guards Jakoriah Long and Hannah Humphrey. Sophomore guard Makayla Patterson tallied 10 points, and sophomore guard Crystal Smith and sophomore forward Tiffany Tullis finished with eight apiece.
Blinn led 23-10 after the first quarter, 43-17 at the half, and 65-25 heading into the fourth period.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
