NMJC Defeats Westerners, Mefford Reaches 100 Career Wins

New Mexico Junior College women's basketball head coach Austin Mefford won his 100th game as a head coach Monday evening. 

The T-Birds defeated the Western Texas College Westerners 54-31 behind a stout performance from Forward Danna Grenald who finished with 11 points and eight rebounds in the win.

Guard Filipa Calisto finished with a career-high 12 points and four rebounds. Guard Delma Zita finished with six points and three rebounds. 

The T-Birds led the game wire-to wire shooting 21-of-55 (33.8%) from the field, 1-for-11 (9.1%) from the three-point line, were 11-of-19 (57.9%) from the free throw line, and forced 24 turnovers in the 23-point win.

Mefford began his head coaching career in 2018 at Seward County going 55-11, winning 83% of his games over the course of two seasons with the Saints.

Coach Mefford was hired here in Hobbs in the spring of 2020. He has amassed a 45-9 record with the T-Birds and won 83% of his games at NMJC in his first two seasons.

Mefford has led his teams to national tournament berths in every season he has been at the helm as a head coach.  This year, Coach Mefford has guided the Thunderbirds to an 8-2 record in conference and 19-4 overall record.

The No. 23 ranked T-Birds are second in the WJCAC behind the South Plains College Texans, who are 9-0 in conference and 15-7 overall.

The T-Birds are back in action on Thursday, Feb. 16. NMJC will play at 5:45 p.m. CDT against the Texans in Levelland, Texas.