The 8th-ranked McLennan Highlassies battled their way to a 74-56 win over the Weatherford Lady Coyotes this afternoon in North Texas Junior College Athletics Conference play.
Miannah Little began the scoring for the Highlassies with a drive in the lane and ensuing foul shot. Adreanna Waddle put Weatherord on the board on the next possession, 3-2. McLennan put together a 5-0 run to extend the lead to six, 8-2. The Highlassies led by seven, 11-4, with 5:39 to go in the quarter. A Helena Svilberg 3-pointer from the wing cut the lead to four, 11-7, before McLennan took off. The Highlassies ended the quarter on a 12-2 run to take the 23-9 lead after the first period of play.
Weatherford's 3-point shooters stepped up in the second quarter with Hena Spahic-Horton and Deja Lumsden each making one in the first minute and a half of the period. The Lady Coyotes chipped away at the lead, cutting it to four midway through the quarter, 29-25, on Mikayla Green 3-pointer. McLennan rallied late in the quarter to push the lead to nine, 37-28, but Weatherford ended on a 4-0 run to cut the lead to five at halftime, 37-32.
McLennan broke the game open in the third quarter. The Highlassies opened with back-to-back buckets by Aniya Williams amd Saneea Bevley. McLennan continued to work and led 41-33 with 8:09 to go in the period. An 11-2 run highlighted by two 3-pointers Chelsea Wooten and another from Bevley made it a 52-35 led midway through the quarter. The Highlassies extended the lead to 19 down the stretch and held the 60-46 advantage going into the fourth.
Weatherford pulled within 11 midway through the fourth at 63-52 but McLennan pulled away once again. The Highlassies ended the game on an 11-4 run to secure the win and move to 2-0 in conference play.
Saneea Bevley and Bineta Diatta led the Highlassies with 17 points each. Aniya Williams added 15.
Weatherford: Ksenija Djokic 0 0-0 0; Hena Spahic-Horton 2 0-0 5; Helena Svilberg 3 0-0 7; Celise Bobbitt 1 1-2 3; Adreanna Waddle 4 3-4 11; Deja Lumsden 6 0-0 13; Mikayla Green 2 0-0 5; Petula Ferreira 3 0-2 6; Briarley Rogers 3 0-2 6; Totals: 24 4-10 56.
McLennan: Aysia Ward 0 0-0 0; Chelsea Wooten 2 0-0 6; Miannah Little 2 2-2 6; Saneea Bevley 5 4-6 17; Jaydyn Bullard 2 0-0 5; Niamh Heath 0 0-0 0; Bineta Diatta 6 4-5 17; Aniya Williams 6 3-4 15; Cynaye Bobbitt 0 5-6 5; Aaliyah Holmes 0 1-2 3; Totals: 24 20-26 74.
3-pointers: Weatherford 4 (Spahic-Horton 1, Svilberg 1, Lumsden 1, Green 1), McLennan 6 (Bevley 3, Wooten 2, Diatta); Total fouls: Weatherford 20, McLennan 8; Fouled out: Weatheford (Adreanna Waddle); Halftime score: McLennan 37, Weatherford 32; Record: McLennan 14-1 (2-0).
