Fatal Slow Start 28-8 first quarter deficit dooms Lady T-Birds

JASON FARMER NEWS-SUN
January 28, 2020

NEWS-SUN PHOTO New Mexico Junior College's Ebony Horton shoots a three-pointer during a home game earlier this year. Horton led the Lady T-Birds in scoring Monday with 19 points.

A rough first quarter doomed the New Mexico Junior College women's basketball team Monday night as the Lady Thunderbirds lost to Midland College 75-60 on the road.

The Lady T-Birds came out of the opening tip with virtually no offense spark and unable to play any defense. Midland scored almost at will in the first 10 minutes of the game, pouring in 28 points while NMJC managed just eight points.

New Mexico Junior College led 2-0, but soon trailed 5-2. After getting a bucket from Mayra Caicedo to get back within one point at 5-4, Midland countered with a 13-0 run that lasted a little longer than three and a half minutes. Maria Cecelia Dos Santos finally ended NMJC's scoring drought with a jump shot, but by then the Lady T-Birds trailed 18-6. Midland then closed out the quarter on a 10-2 run.

New Mexico Junior College found its offense in the second quarter, and cut Midland's lead from 20 points to 14 heading into the break. The Lady T-Birds were unable to keep the momentum they built in the second quarter though and the Lady Chaparrals pushed their lead back to 18 points, 60-42 after the third quarter.

Over the final 10 minutes of play, NMJC again outscored Midland, scoring 18 points to the home team's 15, but it wasn't enough.

Despite playing off the bench, Ebony Horton hit five treys and led the Lady T-Birds in scoring, finishing with 19 points. Eliana Cabral was the only other NMJC player to score in double figures, chipping in 18 points.

Selina Dockery had eight points while Amaya Lewis, a 2018 Hobbs graduate, finished with six points, four rebounds, two steals, and one assist. Caicedo contributed five. Dos Santos and Tania' Mir each had two points.

The Lady T-Birds weren't just outscored, they were also outrebounded. Midland had 36 boards to NMJC's 19. Dockery led the Lady T-Birds with six rebounds while Caicedo finished with five.

With the loss, NMJC falls to 14-6 on the season and 5-2 in Western Junior College Athletic Conference play. The Lady T-Birds will be back in action on Thursday when they host Western Texas College in the second half of WJCAC action in Caster Activity Center. Tipoff is slated for 5:45 p.m.