Highlassies beat Southwestern Christian in conference opener

The McLennan Highlassies opened the 2021 conference season with an 80-59 victory over the Southwestern Christian Lady Rams in Terrell.
 
The Highlassies and Lady Rams got off to a slow start. McLennan opened on a 4-0 run with buckets by Brielle Dorsey and Mele Kailahi. A bucket by Kayla Coleman and a free throw each from Ja'Bria Simmons and Nakeitra Mack tied the game at four. The game was tied at seven with 3:27 to play in the first quarter. The Highlassies began to pull away. A pair of 3-pointer from Kailahi followed by a steal and bucket from Miannah Little completed an 8-0 run for McLennan, and the Highlassies would lead by 12 after one quarter of play. 25-13.
 
Southwestern Christian rallied early in the second to cut the lead to five. McLennan continued to build on their lead, leading by as many as 14 in the quarter and holding the 46-32 advantage at the break.
 
McLennan put the game away in the third quarter. The Highlassies held the Lady Rams to just six points in the quarter as they extended the lead to 62-38. McLennan led by as many as 29 in the fourth but Southwestern Christian didn't back down. A late Lady Rams rally cut the lead back to 16 but that was as close as they could get.
 
Mersadez Nephew led McLennan with 20 points and Raija Todd scored 19. Miannah Little and Mele Kailahi added 10 points each.

McLennan 80, Southwestern Christian 50
McLennan: Raija Todd 7 3-5 19; Miannah Little 4 0-0 10; Jaidyn Fontenette 2 0-0 5; Ahlura Lofton 0 1-2 1; McKenzie Piper 2 3-7 7; Mele Kailahi 3 2-2 10; Mersadez Nephew 8 1-2 20; Judith Moya 1 0-0 3; Brielle Dorsey 2 0-2 4; Marquise Nelson 0 0-0 0; Mariona Garcia 0 2-4 2; Totals: 29 12-24 80.
 
Southwestern Christian: Ja'Neicia Kendrick 4 2-6 11; Traciona Russell 4 1-2 10; Lonniqua Johnson 1 0-2 2; Nakeitra Mack2 5-10 10; Taylor Lowe 0 4-6 4; Kayla Coleman 2 6-10 10; Ja'Bria Simmons 2 1-2 5; Totals: 17 19-38 59.
 
3-pointers: McLennan 11 (Nephew 3, Little 2, Kailahi 2, Todd 2, Fontenette 1, Moya 1); Southwestern Christian 3 (Kendrick 1, Russell 1, Mack 1); Total fouls: McLennan 27, Southwestern Christian 20; Fouled out: Southwestern Christian (Simmons); Halftime score: McLennan 46, Southwestern Christian 23; Record: 2-3 (1-0).