The McLennan women picked up a 10-point road win, 63-53, tonight over the Temple Leopards in Temple.
It was a slow offensive start for McLennan allowing Temple to build an early 5-0. A Charnelle Hoof jumper started a 6-0 run, including four points from Lanaijha Johnson, that put McLennan up 6-5. The teams traded the lead from that point with McLennan leading by two at the end of the first, 14-12.
The back-and-forth continued until the midpoint of the second quarter. Temple led 26-24 with 4:10 remaining before the half. Another Hoof bucket tied the game, and a 3-pointer from the top of the key by Tajenae Gooden gave McLennan the 3-point cushion at 29-26. Temple responded with a 4-0 run to take the brief 30-29 lead but Danai Lewis banked a shot off the glass to make it 31-30 McLennan at halftime.
It would be 39 all with 4:42 to go in the quarter. That's when McLennan began to pull away, using an 8-0 run with four points by Charravia Smith to gup ahead 47-39. Temple didn't back down, fighting back to pull within three going in to the fourth, 47-44.
The Leopard pulled within one at 49-48 with just over seven minutes to play but McLennan took control with another 8-0 run and led by as many as 12 late in the game.
Charravia Smith led McLennan with 16 points, and Tajenae Gooden added 12. Charnelle Hoof and Lanaijha Gooden scored 10 each.
McLennan: Nevaeh Otis 2 2-2 6; Kaedynce Cox-Dunlap 2 0-0 4; Shakira Brown 0 0-0 0; Charnelle Hoof 5 0-0 10; Tajenae Gooden 4 2-2 12; Charravia Smith 7 2-4 16; Danai Lewis 2 1-3 5; Taniya Cruthird 0 0-0 0; Lanaijha Johnson 4 2-2 10; Totals: 26 9-13 63.
Temple: Korina Garcia 5 2-2 13; Gabby Edo 2 0-1 4; Ke'Myreul Wheaton 2 0-0 5 ; Chyna Nixon 5 1-2 12; Antronea Jackson 1 0-0 2; Daija Mitchell 2 3-6 7; Kyla Clark 1 1-3 3; Emori Lasalle 5 2-6 7; Totals: 23 9-20 53.
Halftime score: McLennan 31, Temple 30; 3-pointers: McLennan 2 (Gooden 2), Temple 4 (Garcia 1, Wheaton 1, Nixon 1, Lasalle 1); Total fouls: McLennan 16, Temple 16; Fouled out: Otis (McLennan); Record: McLennan 23-5 (11-4).
