The Temple Lady Leopards defeated the McLennan Highlassies 73-55 Saturday afternoon in Temple.
Kevyn Ferriera began the scoring with a jumper for Temple less than 30 seconds into the game. McLennan responded with a fast break to Ashley Moore and took the 4-2 lead on a Jaylonn Walker jumper with 8:15 to play in the first half. The Lady Leopards took the lead on a Mikayla Blount 3-pointer and extended the lead to four on another Blount 3-pointer with 5:40 remaining in the first, 8-4. Temple continued to lead by four, 10-6, with 3:21 on the clock. A Nadia Hayes jumper and pair of Walker free throws for the Highlassies tied the game at 10. Temple led 13-12 at the end of the first.
Temple opened up the game in the second quarter taking the first double-digit lead at 27-17 with three minutes remaining in the first half. The Lady Leopards extended the lead to 12 but McLennan didn't give in. The Highlassies used a 7-0 run to pull within five, 31-26, with three seconds left, but a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Angel Mullen gave Temple the 34-26 advantage at the break.
Temple continued to lead by eight, 44-36 with just under three minutes to play in the third. The Highlassies stepped up with a vengeance. A pair of free throws each from Dariel Johnson and Velma Mitchell cut the lead in half, and a long 3-pointer from Patrickia Daily pulled the Highalssies within one. Two more free throws from Mitchell gave McLennan the 45-44 lead with 48.7 seconds to go in the third. A Blount layup and ensuing foul shot gave the lead back to Temple, but Mitchell drained another set of free throws to tie the game at 47 going into the final period.
The Lady Leopards took an early lead in the fourth opening on a 4-0 run, 51-47. McLennan responded with an 8-0 run to take the 54-51 lead with 5:48 to play. Temple took control from that point, ending the game on a 22-1 run to take the win.
Mitchell and Walker led the Highlassies with 16 and 15 points, respectively.
Temple 73, McLennan 55
McLennan: Patrickia Daily 1 2-2 4; Colandria Haynes 0 0-0 0; Dariel Johnson 2 2-2 6; Jordan Mullins 1 0-0 2; Velma Mitchell 2 11-14 15; Jaylonn Walker 6 4-4 16; Chelsi Woodard 1 0-0 2; Nadia Hayes 3 0-0 6; Ashley Moore 2 0-0 4; Totals: 18 18-22 55.
Temple: Angel Mullen 1 0-0 3; Mikayla Blount 6 4-4 18; Kevyn Ferriera 5 0-0 11; Kristen Nelson 4 3-6 13; Kiana Reed 7 0-0 14; Chandrett Nunez 1 0-0 2; Alexis Harris 3 4-5 10; McKenzie Lunkin 1 0-0 2; Jamia Miller 0 0-0 0; Totals: 28 11-15 73.
3-pointers: McLennan 1 (Daily 1), Temple 6 (Blount 2, Nelson 2, Mullen 1, Ferriera 1); Total fouls: McLennan 17, Temple 20; Halftime score: Temple 34, McLennan 26; Record: McLennan 16-12 (9-4).
