The 10th-ranked McLennan women's basketball squad battled from behind to defeat the Temple Lady Leopards 84-73 tonight in the final conference game at The Highlands.
The game was close through the first quarter. McLennan led 7-6 and added a Danai Lewis bucket from the paint to lead 9-6 at the first media timeout. Temple tied the game at 9 with a bucket and one by Jaylice Rosario. Another Lewis basket tie the game at 11 before Aniyah Lewis added a pair of Temple free throws to take the lead again. The Leady Leopard extended the lead to fie late in the quarter, and held the four-point lead into the second, 18-14.
The Lady Leopards were up 24-21 with 7:33 to play in the second. A three-point play by Charnelle Hoof tied the game at 24 but Imani McCray 3-pointer for the Lady Leopards put Temple back on top. A put back by Jalayah Ingram started a 5-0 run to give McLennan the 29-27 lead with just under four minutes remaining before the half. The squad continued to lead by two, 33-31 with 2:18 to go. Temple ended the half on a 9-0 run to lead 40-33 at the break.
Temple opened the third quarter with a Raegan Pavesi 3-pointer to take the first double-digit lead of the game at 43-33. McLennan responded with a 6-0 run including back-to-back buckets by Andrea Johnson. The team continued to chip away and the game was tied at 55 going into the final quarter.
McLennan opened the final frame on an 8-0 run and continued to pull away down the stretch, going 18-19 from the free throw line in the quarter to secure the victory.
Jalayah Ingram led McLennan with 28 points. Tajenae Gooden and Danai Lewis added 20 and 15, respectively.
Temple: Mychal White 5 0-0 12; Gabby Edo 0 2-2 2; Aniyah Lewis 2 2-2 6; Biva Byrd 5 1-1 11; Janiya Davis 0 1-2 1; Imani McCray 3 9-10 16; Scejeoanna Anderson 0 0-0 0;
Jaylice Rosario 7 7-9 22; Reagan Pavesi 1 0-0 3; Totals: 24 22-26 73.
McLennan: Hannah Mouton1 2-2 4; Jalayah Ingram 9 10-10 48; Andrea Johnson 3 0-0 6; Daija Mitchell 1 0-0 2; Kennedi Ard 0 0-0 0; Charnelle Hoof 2 1-1 5; Tajenae Gooden 5 8-10 20; Taylor Craver 0 3-4 3; Tyla Roberts 0 0-0 0; Amerie Flowers 0 1-2 1; Danai Lewis 6 3-8 15; Totals: 29 28-37 84.
First Quarter score: Temple 18, McLennan 14; Halftime score: Temple 40, McLennan 33;
Third quarter score: Temple 55, McLennan 55; 3-pointers: Temple 5 (White 2, Davis 1, Rosario 1, Pavesi 1), McLennan2 (Gooden 2); Total fouls: Temple 29, McLennan 22; Fouled out: White (Temple), Lewis (Temple), Pavesi (Temple); Record: McLennan 24-3 (13-2).
