WACO, Texas — Blinn College women’s basketball was able to recover from a slow start to come back and claim a 79-77 victory over Hill College in overtime to open the McLennan Community College Shootout in Waco.

With the win, Blinn improves to 7-6 overall and stays 1-4 in Region XIV play.

Sophomores Jade Rochelle and Ke’Asia Williams led the Buccaneers on offense as Rochelle posted 27 points and Williams recorded 15 points. Sophomore Aaliyah Holmes reached double digits with 11 points, while freshman Alexus Wykoff followed with nine points.

“I am very proud of our comeback; we showed great fight and overcame a lot of obstacles to find a way to win,” said Jeff Jenkins, Blinn head coach. “Rochelle and Williams played the way that sophomores are supposed to play and stepped up huge.”

The Buccaneers stumbled in the opening quarter for Hill to take a 20-8 lead. Blinn’s offense picked up the pace in the second quarter to outscore Hill 16-14 but the Buccaneers still trailed 34-24 at the half.

Hill maintained a 54-48 lead heading into the final quarter until the Buccaneers outscored Hill 18-12 to even the score 66-66 to take the game into overtime. In overtime, Blinn and Hill played an evenly matched game until the Buccaneers shot the final bucket for a 79-77 win.

Blinn will play its final game of the McLennan Community College Shootout on Wednesday, Jan. 3 against Ranger College at 3 p.m.

Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 36 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.

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