In a fight-to-the-finish style game, the McLennan Highlassies fell to the Collin Lady Cougars 65-57.
Collin began the scoring with a pair of Ashtyn Beal free throws less than a minute into the contest. A Nadia Hayes put back with 7:57 to play in the first put McLennan on the board. Another Hayes jumper gave the Highlassies the early 4-2 lead. Collin used a 6-0 run to take the 8-4 lead midway through the first quarter. McLennan trimmed the lead to one before the Lady Cougars pulled away taking the 12-7 lead with 1:20 remaining in the first. A Velma Mitchell free throw followed by a steal and bucket by Jaylonn Walker for the Highlassies cut the lead to two at the end of the quarter, 12-10.
The Lady Cougars took control of the game in the second quarter opening on a 9-0 run as the McLennan offense began to struggle. But, the Highlassies didn't give up. A Colandria Haynes drive in the lane with 5:44 jumpstarted the McLennan offense. The Haynes basket began a 9-2 McLennan run capped off by a fast break to Hayes which cut the Collin lead to four, 23-19 with 4:15 remaining in the first half. The Lady Cougars led 27-21 at the break.
McLennan kept it close through the first six minutes of the third quarter trimming the lead to four on a Dariel Johnson steal and drive to the basket, 35-31. Collin extended the lead to 12 down the stretch, 43-31, with 1:16 to go in the third. The Highlassies continued to fight, ending the quarter on a 4-0 run to cut the lead back to eight, 43-35, going into the final period. McLennan rallied in the fourth pulling within three, 54-51, with 2:43 remaining in the game but was unable to get any closer.
Mitchell led the Highlassies with 17 points and Johnson added 14.
McLennan travels to Temple Saturday to continue conference play. Women's action gets underway at 2 p.m. followed by the men's game at 4 p.m.
Collin 65, McLennan 57
Collin: Asia Willard 3 11-12 18; Karan Sicurella 2 1-2 6; Asia Davis 6 4-4 20; Tree Brooks 1 1-1 3; Ashtyn Beal 1 1-2 4; Alyssa Powers 0 0-0 0; Mya Johnson 2 0-0 4; Zhanae Whitney 4 2-2 10; Totals: 19 21-25 65.
McLennan: Patrickia Daily 1 0-0 3; Colandria Haynes 1 0-0 2; Dariel Johnson 6 0-0 14; Jordan Mullins 0 0-0 0; Velma Mitchell 3 10-14 17; Jaylonn Walker 2 0-0 5; Chelsi Woodard 1 0-0 2; Nadia Hayes 4 0-0 8; Ashley Moore 3 0-0 6; Totals: 21 10-14 57.
3-pointers: Collin 6 (Davis 4, Willard 1, Sicurella 1), McLennan 5 (Johnson 2, Daily 1, Mitchell 1, Walker 1); Total fouls: Collin 17, McLennan 21; Halftime score: Collin 27, McLennan 21; Record: McLennan 16-10 (9-2).
