The 23rd-ranked McLennan women opened the 2024-25 season with a 55-44 victory over the Frank Phillips Plainsman on opening day of the McLennan Classic
The first-game jitters were prevalent for both teams early in the game as both teams struggled to score. Frank Phillips began the scoring with a Solenne Olenga free throw, and McLennan tied it with a free throw from Amerie Flowers. An up-and-under basket from the Plainsman's Elise Jones put Frank Phillips on top, and they led 9-8 at the end of the first. Amaya Lacy added a free throw for Frank Phillips early in the second, putting the Plainsman up by two, but McLennan responded with a 6-0 run capped by a Jalayah Ingram 3-pointer to go up 14-10 midway through the quarter. A 5-0 run put Frank Phillips back on top, and the Plainsman led 17-16 at the half.
Both teams stepped up their game in the third quarter. McLennan opened on a 7-0 run to lead 23-17 with 7:24 to go in the frame. Frank Phillips rallied late and led 34-33 with 30 seconds to go in the quarter. Tajenae Gooden drained a 3-pointer from the corner in the final 10 seconds to put McLennan up by two going into the fourth, 36-34.
McLennan pulled away in the fourth, opening on a 10-1 run as they held Frank Phillips to one lone free throw for over five minutes of play. The McLennan lead would be as much as 14 down the stretch as it claimed the first victory of the season.
Tajenae Gooden led McLennan with 16 points. Jalayah Ingram and Amerie Flowers added 15 and 10, respectively.
Frank Phillips: Kemah Shaw 1 1-2 3; Nevaeh Sanchez 5 3-4 15; Za'Myah Dickson 0 0-0 0; Ilris Aworet 2 3-4 7; Solenne Olenga 4 4-8 12; Amaya Lacy 1 1-2 3; Elise Jones 1 0-4 2; Jada Torrence 0 0-0 0; Sydney Taylor 15 12-24 44.
Totals:
McLennan: Hannah Mouton 2 4-5 8; Jalayah Ingram 4 6-8 15; Daija Mitchell 0 0-0 0; Kennedi Ard 1 3-4 6; Tajenae Gooden 5 3-4 16; Taylor Craver 0 0-0 0; Tyla Roberts 0 0-0 0; Amerie Flowers 4 2-5 10; Pauline Maccarthy 4 2-5 10; Totals: 16 18-26 55.
First Quarter score: Frank Phillips 9, McLennan 8; Halftime score: Frank Phillips 17, McLennan 16; Third quarter score: McLennan 36, Frank Phillips 34; 3-pointers: Frank Phillips 2 (Sanchez 2), McLennan 4 (Gooden 3, Ingram 1); Total fouls: Frank Phillips 25, McLennan 23; Fouled out: Frank Phillips (Dickson, Lacy), McLennan (Roberts, Flowers); Record: McLennan 1-0.
