The McLennan Highlassies ran away from the Grayson Vikings to pick up an 80-52 conference victory.
McLennan controlled the game from the start. The Highlassie defense held the Vikings to one free throw through the first four and a half minutes. Miannah Little and Chelsea Wooten both drained 3-pointers as part of that 9-1 run to begin the game. A Sephora Kayolo 3-pointer for Grayson quickly trimmed the lead to five at 9-4 before McLennan pulled away. Saneea Bevley and Bineta Diatta combined for a 5-0 run to give the Highlassies the first double-digit lead at 14-4 midway through the quarter. McLennan outscored Grayson 9-4 to end the quarter and take the 23-8 lead.
Diatta a bucket from the paint to start the scoring in the second. Maureen Okoli began hit a 3-pointer for the Vikings. The Highlassies continued to push, using a 9-0 run to extend the lead to 23, 34-11. McLennan led by as many as 27 late in the quarter and held the 42-17 advantage at the break.
Grayson picked up the offensive pace in the third quarter, scoring 16 in the frame compared to the 17 in the first two quarters combined. The Highlassies however continued to dominate, using an 8-2 run down the stretch and an 8-0 run to end the quarter for a 67-33 lead going into the fourth. The Vikings opened the final period on an 11-2 run to narrow the gap. McLennan responded with a 6-0 run and cruised the rest of the way.
Miannah Little led McLennan with 18 points and Bineta Diatta added 15. Chelsea Wooten and Saneea Bevley rounded out the Highlassies in double figures with 13 and 10, respectively.
Grayson: Maureen Okoli 3 1-2 9; Sephora Kayolo 4 3-4 12; Divine Lukombo 0 2-4 2; Sonja Schuch 1 1-2 3; Stella McIntyre 4 1-2 11; Abey Priscilla 1 5-7 7; Diarra Sissoko 1 0-2 2; Fatou Kamara 3 0-0 6; Totals: 17 13-23 52.
McLennan: Aysia Ward 0 0-0 0; Chelsea Wooten 5 0-0 13; Miannah Little 5 0-0 13; Saneea Bevley 4 0-0 10; Jaydyn Bullard 1 4-4 6; Bineta Diatta 6 3-6 15; Aniya Williams 2 0-0 4; Cynaye Bobbitt 1 0-02; Aaliyah Holmes 3 0-09; Bailee St. Romain 1 1-2 3;
Totals: 29 11-15 80.
3-pointers: Grayson 4 (Schuch 2, Okoli 1, Kayolo 1), McLennan 11 (Wooten 3, Little 3, Holmes 3, Bevley 2); Total fouls: Grayson 17, McLennan 17; Fouled out: Lukombo (Grayson); Halftime score: McLennan 42, Grayson 17; Record: McLennan 17-2 (5-1).
