Taking Care of Business

Taking Care of Business

Lady Thunderbirds tame Bulldogs

JASON FARMER NEWS-SUN
February 19, 2019

Laci Hawthorne throws up a shot doing a home game against Clarendon College earlier this year. Monday, will playing Clarendon not he road, Hawthorne recorded a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds) as NMJC beat the Lady Bulldogs 76-55.

The No. 15 ranked New Mexico Junior College women's basketball won its fifth straight game Monday night when the Lady Thunderbirds beat host Clarendon 76-55.

The Lady T-Birds jumped out to a 10-point lead in the first quarter, outscoring Clarendon 25-15 over the first 10 minutes of play. During the second quarter, the Lady Bulldogs nearly cut NMJC's scoring in half, holding the Lady T-Birds to just 13 points. At the same time, Clarendon finished with 16 points, cutting NMJC's lead to just seven points, 38-31.

"We came out the first quarter and had a pretty good first quarter," New Mexico Junior College coach Drew Sanders said. "But got in early foul trouble and allowed them to get back in the game in the second quarter."

New Mexico Junior College picked up its defense in the third quarter, holding Clarendon to just six points while scoring 15 of its own as the Lady T-Birds pushed their lead 53-37. Over the final 10 minutes of play, NMJC once again got into an offensive rhythm as the Lady T-Birds poured in 23 points. At the same time, Clarendon had its best offensive quarter of the game, scoring 18.

"In the third quarter, the game actually closed down to a five point ball game," Sanders said. "Then we went into a press and created some turnovers and got some easy baskets and got into a flow and went on a big run."

Four different players finished in double figures for NMJC. Sydnee Wynn led all scorers with 20 points. She also grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds to finish with a double-double. Thamires Andrade and Mayra Caicedo also scored in double figures. Andrade had 12 points and seven rebounds while Caicedo chipped in 11 points. Brenda Costa was 1-of-2 at the free throw line and just missed double figures, finishing with nine points. Costa also had six steals for the Lady T-Birds. Jurnee President added seven points to round out the starting five.

Off the bench, Laci Hawthorne also had a double-double, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 boards. Bryana Langford (five points) and Delphynia Sparks (two points) also scored in the game.