No. 7 Lady T-Birds win eighth straight

BIG SPRING, Texas — The No. 7 New Mexico Junior College women's basketball team kept its firm hold on first place in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference as Angelica de Paulo's 20-point, 12-rebound effort led the Lady Thunderbirds to a 65-37 victory over Howard College on Thursday at Dorothy Garrett Coliseum.

NMJC (19-1 overall, 6-0 WJCAC) outscored Howard (5-15, 0-6) 38-16 in the second half to turn a 27-21 halftime lead into a 28-point victory. The Lady T-Birds shot 57.7 percent from the field in the second half, including going 4-for-5 from beyond the arc. Defensively NMJC held Howard to 26.1 percent shooting in the second half to help pull away from the Lady Hawks.

"In the first half we were really sluggish," NMJC coach Drew Sanders said. "... In the second half we picked up the intensity, picked up the defensive effort and were able to get some transition baskets."

The sophomore de Paulo was 10-for-21 from the field for her 20 points while grabbing 12 rebounds (eight offensive) and dishing out three assists. Fellow post Antoina Robinson had 10 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked six shots. Malaik Muhammad had nine points on 3-for-3 shooting from 3-point range while Kelsey Criner had four points, five assists and six steals.

Monica Perez led Howard with eight points.

NMJC forced 23 turnovers in the contest while committing just 13 of its own.

The Lady T-Birds are now a game and a half up on Midland College (5-2) for first place in the conference, two games up on Odessa College (4-2) and three games up on Frank Phillips, Clarendon and South Plains (all 3-3).

NMJC hosts Clarendon 5:45 p.m. Monday at Caster Activity Center in Hobbs to wrap up the first half of conference play.