T-Birds Win First Conference Game of the Season

by Claire Cabello 

The T-Birds played their first conference game of the season against Odessa College at the OC Sports Center last night. The T-Birds are now 1-0 in WJCAC play. 

The game was a tough fight from the beginning as the T-Birds were behind by only one point at the end of the first quarter with the Wranglers ahead 14-13. After multiple lead changes in the second quarter, sophomore Mariama Sow made two free throws putting the T-Birds ahead 28-26 at halftime. 

It was a close second half for the T-Birds. Freshman Danna Grenald put up 8 points to contribute to the 13 points made by the T-Birds in the third quarter, going into the fourth ahead 47-42. The T-Birds were in the lead throughout the first five minutes of the fourth quarter until the Wranglers made a three pointer with four minutes left in the game putting them ahead 63-61. The Wranglers held that lead until Precious Cowan made a jump shot with 15 seconds left in the game putting the T-Birds up 72-71. That one point lead was short lived after the Wranglers, Taya Davis, made a free throw with only eleven seconds left in the game. The teams went into overtime 72-72. 

The T-Birds were able to maintain their lead in overtime against the Wranglers with Cabria Lewis scoring the final points in the game with two free throws putting the T-Birds on top 85-81. 

Top scorer for the T-Birds was Precious Cowan with 22 points, 5 rebounds, and one steal. Other T-Birds scoring double digits were Mariama Sow with 17 points, 8 rebounds, Cabria Lewis with 15 points, 3 steals, and 5 rebounds, and Danna Grenald with 12 points, 16 rebounds, and 2 blocks. 

This is the T-Birds first conference win in WJCAC play. The team's next game will be on Thursday, December 16th in Hobbs, NM against Ranger College at 6PM MST.