The McLennan Highlassies held off an early threat from the Temple Leopards to roll to an 86-58 victory in Temple.
Bineta Diatta began the scoring for the Highlassies less than 10 seconds into the game and it appeared it would be a McLennan blowout early on. The Highlassies scored fast and often with strong shooting from Diatta and Miannah Little. McLennan led 24-8 with 2:54 to go in the first quarter but Temple wasn't going to go down easily. The Leopards put together a 10-0 run over the next minute and a half to cut the lead to six, 24-18 with 1:25 to go in the quarter. A Little 3-Highlassies held the 31-21 lead after the first quarter.
McLennan continued to lead by 10, 43-33 with 2:20 remaining before the half. Once again, Temple rallied ending the half on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to three at the break, 43-40.
The Highlassies broke the game open in the third quarter. Saneea Bevley opened the quarter on a personal 5-0 run and scored 16 in the period. McLennan outscored Temple 27-11 in the quarter to take the 70-51 advantage into the final quarter. McLennan continued to roll in the fourth, opening on a 9-0 run as they held the Leopards scoreless for almost five minutes and cruised to the victory.
Bevley led the Highlassies with 24 points including six 3-pointers. Miannah Little added 17. Aysia Ward and Bineta Diatta scored 12 and 11, respectively.
McLennan: Alicia Mills 0 0-0 0; Aysia Ward 5 3-3 13; Chelsea Wooten 3 0-0 8; Miannah Little 6 2-5 17; Esther Kwagala 1 0-0 2; Kennedi Rowland 0 1-2 1; Saneea Bevley 8 2-2 24; Jaydyn Bullard 0 0-0 0; Niamh Heath 0 0-0 0; Bineta Diatta 5 1-1 11; Aniya Williams 3 2-4 8; Cynaye Bobbitt 0 0-0 0; Aaliyah Holmes 0 0-0 0; Bailee St. Romain 1 0-0 2; Capri Garrett 0 0-0 0. Totals: 32 11-17 86.
Temple: Evelyn Lorenzo 2 0-0 6; Mochieyeveon Hobbs 2 0-0 5; Kayla Herrera 1 0-2 2; Tia Mitchell 2 3-4 8; Imani Mitchell 2 1-1 5; Kyiah Hicks 2 0-0 4; Camille Pritchard 5 0-2 11; Erika Suarez 2 0-0 4; Kira Bass 5 3-3 13; Totals: 23 7-12 58.
3-pointers: McLennan 11 (Bevley 6, Little 3, Wooten 2), Temple 4 (Lorenzo 2, Hobbs 1, T. Mitchell 1); Total fouls: McLennan 9, Temple 13; Halftime score: McLennan 43, Temple 40; Record: McLennan 23-3 (11-2).
