2nd Quarter Defense Guides WBB to Victory

The NMJC women's basketball team thrashed Clarendon College 91-41 to hand the Bulldogs their second conference loss of the season. 

The T-Birds are tied with South Plains College in the WJCAC standings at 6-1.

NMJC did not trail the entire game. The Thunderbirds shot 53.3 percent from the field in the first quarter to hold a 20-9 lead. 

Defensively, the T-Birds stifled Clarendon from the field in the second quarter. The Bulldogs failed to make a field goal shooting 0-for-10 in the quarter, scoring one point. NMJC finished the half in front 36-10. 

The lead ballooned to 38 points in the third quarter behind 10 points by Cacia Antonio. The T-Birds shot 56.5% from the field and 50% from the 3-point line on their way to scoring 32 points in the frame. 

Kaycee Steinke came off the bench in the fourth quarter scoring all 11 of her points. The freshman guard was 3-for-3 from 3-point range and 4-for-5 from the field in the quarter. NMJC outscored the Bulldogs 23-11 in the fourth to win by 50 points.

Five players scored in double figures for the T-Birds with 4-of-5 starters meeting that mark.

Cacia Antonio finished with a game-high 19 points and eight rebounds. Forward Pania Davis grabbed 11 points and four rebounds. 

Amyah Sutton went 3-for-6 from the 3-point line and scored 15 points and five assists. Sutton is No. 4 in the NJCAA 3-point percentage at 50.8%. Clarendon's Ana Vieira leads the country in 3-point percentage at 52.8%. Vieira was held in check during Monday's game where she went 0-3 from 3-point territory. 

Guard Nuria Estrade recorded 10 points in the win over the Bulldogs. Forward Emma Najjuma added 11 rebounds.

The T-Birds shot 35-for-68 (51.5%) from the field, 12-of-25 (48.0%) from the 3-point line, and 9-of-13 (69.2%) from the free throw line. The Thunderbirds forced 17 turnovers and held the Bulldogs to 26.2% from the field and 16.7% from the three-point line.  

The No. 1 Thunderbirds improve to 21-1 (6-1) and will face No. 10 South Plains College 18-2 (6-1) on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 5:45 p.m. MST in Hobbs, NM.