Lady T-Birds rally past Western Texas

NEWS-SUN PHOTO Alexes Bryant attempts a shot during a home game earlier this year. On Monday, Bryant and the Lady Thunderbirds beat Western Texas 56-48 in Snyder.

The New Mexico Junior College women's basketball team overcame a shaky second quarter to beat Western Texas Junior College Monday night, knocking off the Lady Westerners 56-48.

"It was a game where we trailed most of the game," Sanders said. "At halftime, we were down and came out and pressed in the third quarter. We out scored them in the second half. They had 19 points in the second half an we had 33."

The Lady Thunderbirds and the Lady Westerners were pretty evenly matched in the first quarter, but it was NMJC taking a two-point lead, 15-13, after the first 10 minutes of play. NMJC pushed its lead to 19-13 with just under eight minutes left in the second quarter, but it didn't last.

With just over three minutes left in the quarter, Western Texas knotted the game up at 21-all. The Lady Westerners then took a 24-21 lead with 2:35 left in the half. By halftime, NMJC trailed 29-23.

"We played with no energy in the first half," Sanders said. "We were very, very fortunate to come out of this one with the win."

The Lady T-Birds offensive struggles continued early in the second half. With seven minutes left in the third, NMJC trailed by 11, 36-25. By the end of the third, NMJC was back within five points, 40-35.

With the game on the line, as well as the top spot in the Western Athletic Conference, NMJC kicked its offense into high gear in the fourth quarter as the Lady T-Birds outscored Western Texas 21-8. The Lady T-Birds opened the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run to take the lead and they never looked back.

"I am very proud of the way the girls responded in the third and fourth quarters when they were behind," Sanders said. "But, we have got to play four quarters."

Alexas Bryant was the only NMJC player to score in double figures, finishing with 22 points. She also had 17 rebounds, 11 on the offensive end, to finish with a double-double. Bryant was four blocked shots away from a triple double.

Jurnee President had nine points while Tatiana Wright chipped in eight rebounds and seven assists. Keonna Watson had 10 board and six points off the bench while Ingrid Farina contributed seven points in a reserve role.

With the win, NMJC improves to 24-1 on the season and 8-1 in WJCAC.