The No. 13 McLennan women's basketball squad routed the Ranger Lady Rangers 55-41 on the road for a conference victory.
The pace was slow for both teams in the first quarter. The game was tied at four with 5:36 to play in the first. Back-to-back buckets by Lanaijha Johnson gave McLennan the four-point advantage at 8-4 less than a minute later. Ranger pulled back within one on a Hadli Hampton 3-pointer but McLennan responded with a banked shot off the glass by Danai Lewis to go up by three at 10-7. McLennan continued to lead by three at 12-9 when Ranger went on a 4-0 run to lead 13-12. Johnson added a free throw for McLennan in the final second of the period to make it 13 all going into the second.
The game remained close until the midway point of the second quarter. McLennan led 19-18 with 4:18 to play before the half and ended on a 6-0 run highlighted by a 3-pointer from Tajenae Gooden to hold the 25-18 advantage at halftime.
McLennan broke the game open in the third quarter. Already up by five at 29-24 with 5:46 on the clock, the squad went on a 14-0 run holding the Ranger scoreless for more than four minutes. The run included seven points from Gooden to make it 43-2 McLennan. Ranger scored four in the final minute of the quarter to cut the lead to 15 at 43-28.
McLennan was hot to start the fourth. Charravia Smith, Charnelle Hoof and Johnson combined for a 6-0 to push the lead to 21. Ranger rallied late in the quarter but it wasn't enough to overpower McLennan.a
Lanaijha Johnson led the way for McLennan with 24 points, and Tajenae Gooden added 13.
McLennan: Nevaeh Otis 0 0-0 0; Kaedynce Cox-Dunlap 0 0-0 0; Ar'Mya Amos-Horsley 0 2-2 2; Charnelle Hoof 2 0-2 4; Tajenae Gooden 3 5-6 13; Charravia Smith 3 2-2 8; Trinity Butler 0 0-0 0; Joy Dau 0 0-0 0; Danai Lewis 1 0-0 2; Taniya Cruthird 1 0-0 2; Lanaijha Johnson 11 2-4 24; Kamara Effit 0 0-0 0; Totals: 21 11-16 55.
Ranger: Kayleigh Murphy 1 0-0 2; Andrea Doval 0 2-2 2; Mahinarangi Bezzant 1 0-0 2; Favour Emeka 2 0-0 4; Hadli Hampton 4 3-3 15; Shamariah Gibbs 2 0-0 4; Elissa Means 0 2-2 2; Kahlea Samples 4 0-0 10; Totals: 14 7-7 41.
Halftime score: McLennan 25, Ranger 18; 3-pointers: McLennan 2 (Gooden 2), Ranger 4 (Hampton 2, Samples 2); Total fouls: McLennan 14, Ranger 14; Record: McLennan 20-4 (8-3).
