The McLennan Highlassies defeated the Arkansas Baptist Lady Buffs 65-59 Saturday afternoon in the Budke & Serna Classic hosted by Trinity Valley Community College in Athens.
The game was close throughout the first quarter with neither team gaining more than a four-point lead. McLennan led 13-10 at the end of the first. The Highlassies pulled away in the second, leading by as many as 12 and held the 32-22 advantage at halftime.
McLennan struggled to score in the third. The Highlassies led 39-27 with 5:37 remaining in the quarter. Arkansas Baptist ended the quarter on a 15-3 run to tie the game at 42. The game was tied at 50 with just under five minutes to play. McLennan's Kyera Coleman scored five consecutive points over the next three minutes to put the Highlassies on top for good.
Coleman led McLennan with 15 points and Ariana Sanders added 13. Tayla Taylor and Caylinne Martin scored 11 points each.
McLennan 65, Arkansas Baptist 59
Arkansas Baptist: Deja Hughes 1 0-2 2; April Phelix 2 2-4 7; Sydney Saxton 0 5-6 5; Emani Hamilton 6 3-4 18; Kalelea Miller 4 6-10 18; Tanerica Morrell 1 2-6 4; Sunkietra McCallister 2 1-2 5; Erin Meeks 0 -0 0; Totals: 16 19-40 59.
McLennan: Kiana Martin 2 0-6 4; Kyera Coleman 6 2-6 15; Victoria Seay 1 0-2 3; Diamond Ervin 1 2-4 4; Ariana Sanders 2 9-10 13; Raven Ringo 0 1-2 1; Tayla Taylor 5 1-3 11; Tori Thompson 1 1-2 3; Caylinne Martin 4 3-5 11; Totals: 22 19-42 65.
3-pointers: Arkansas Baptist 8 (Miller 4, Hamilton 3, Phelix 1), McLennan 2 (Seay 1, Coleman 1); Total fouls: Arkansas Baptist 30, McLennan 26; Fouled out: Arkansas Baptist (Meeks), McLennan (Taylor); Halftime score: McLennan 32, Arkansas Baptist 22; Record: 5-7.
