Highlassies trounce Temple

The McLennan Highlassies moved to 5-1 in conference play with an 82-58 victory over the Temple Lady Leopards.

Temple opened the game on a 5-0 run comprised of a layup by Mikayla Blount and a 3-pointer by Kevyn Ferriera. McLennan got on the board with a jumper in the lane from Ashley Moore with 8:50 to play in the first quarter. Another Lady Leopard basket returned the Temple lead to five, 7-2. Jaylonn Walker cut to the basket for two and a Nadia Hayes put back under the goal pulled the Highlassies within one, 7-6. The Lady Leopards extended the lead back to five, 15-10, with 1:36 remaining in the first. Dariel Johnson drained a long 3-pointer from the elbow to ignite the Highlassies' offense with 45 seconds to go in the first. Ashley Moore tied the game at 15 with another jumper in the lane as time ran out in the quarter. 

Temple took the two-point lead on a Kristen Nelson drive in the lane less than a minute into the second period. The Highlassies found their rhythm and used a 7-0 run capped off by another Johnson 3-pointer to put some distance between themselves and the Lady Leopards. McLennan led 25-20 with 4:14 to play in the period. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Walker and Patrickia Daily extended the lead to 11. Temple pulled within six, 35-29, with 1:21 to go. Johnson found Hayes cutting to the basket for an easy score, and another Walker long ball gave the Highlassies a 5-0 run to end the half and take the 40-29 advantage into halftime.

McLennan put the game away early in the third quarter. Velma Mitchell and Walker combined to start the quarter on a 4-0 run for the Highlassies extending the lead to 15. McLennan continued to pull away down the stretch and led by 22, 63-41, heading into the fourth. The Highlassies continued to cruise in the final period to secure the easy victory. 

Mitchell led McLennan with 18 points. Walker and Hayes added 17 points each. Johnson scored 13.

McLennan 82, Temple 58

Temple: Angel Mullen 0 0-0 0; Mikayla Blount 2 2-6 7; Nyeia Bias 0 0-0 0; Kevyn Ferriera 2 0-0 6; Kristen Nelson 5 6-7 17; Kiana Reed 1 0-0 2; Chandre Nunez 1 0-0 2; Alexis Harris 7 2-3 16; Carmen Williams 0 1-4 1; Mckenzie Lunkin 1 0-0 2; Jamia Miller 1 0-0 3; D'Ashiah Williams 1 0-0 2; Totals: 21 11-20 58.

McLennan: Patrickia Daily 3 0-0 7; Colandria Haynes 0 2-2 2; Dariel Johnson 4 2-2 13; Jordan Mullins 1 0-0 2; Velma Mitchell 7 2-2 18; Jaylonn Walker 6 2-2 17; Chelsi Woodard 0 0-0 0; Nadia Hayes 3 0-0 6; Ashley Moore 8 1-3 17; Totals: 32 9-11 82.

3-pointers: Temple 5 (Ferriera 2, Blount 1, Nelson 1, Miller 1), McLennan 9 (Walker 3, Johnson 3, Mitchell 2, Daily 1); Total fouls: Temple 12, McLennan 20; Halftime score: McLennan 40, Temple 29; Record: McLennan 12-9 (5-1).