Antonio’s 29 Overpowers Westerners

T-Bird guard Cacia Antonio scored a career-high 29 points to lift NMJC to a 75-62 victory over Western Texas College Monday night. 

A Wisdom Anthony layup gave the T-Birds a seven-point lead early with 3:22 to go in the first quarter. Cacia Antonio's jumper at the end of the first quarter kept the Thunderbirds ahead seven points, 16-9.

Two free throws by the Westerners cut the lead to four points, 21-17, with 5:47 left in the half. The Westerners hit a three ball to pull within four points, 27-22, at the 4:19 mark in the second quarter. NMJC outscored the Westerners 11-7 the rest of the half to take a 38-29 lead after two quarters of play. 

Forward Pania Davis hit a layup with 7:27 in the third quarter to extend the T-Birds lead to 16 points, 49-33. NMJC led after three quarters 56-44.

The Thunderbirds upped the lead to as many as 15 in the fourth quarter. NMJC finished off the Westerners by 13 points, 75-62. 

Freshman Amyah Sutton recorded 19 points off the bench going 11-of-13 from the free throw line. Sutton has made 18 free throws over the last two games. Pania Davis and Cacia Antonio finished the game with nine rebounds each. Filipa Calisto added nine points in the 13-point win. 

The Thunderbirds shot 25-for-57 (43.9%) from the field, 5-of-13 (38.5%) from 3-point land, and 20-of-25 (80%) from the free throw line. NMJC held the Westerners to 32.8% from the field.

No. 5 NMJC moves to 20-4 (9-0) on the year and will face Odessa College 22-3 (8-1) in Odessa, Texas Thursday, Feb. 15 at 5:45 p.m. CST. 

The T-Birds are one game ahead of Odessa in the WJCAC standings and the winner of Thursday's matchup will have the inside track to the WJCAC championship.