BRENHAM, Texas – The offense didn't look pretty for the entire game for Blinn College women's basketball but in spurts it was consistent enough to pull out a 68-44 victory over Temple College in the home opener inside the PE Building Tuesday night in Brenham.
For sections of the second quarter and even more so in the fourth quarter the offense looked to run smoothly as those two quarters made the difference in the game for the Buccaneers as they improve to 2-0 on the season.
Ebony Parker led the way for Blinn with 18 points with the help of three 3-pointers as she was able to find space in the zone defense of Temple.
"The first half my shots weren't really falling but I continued to shoot," Parker said after the game. "When they played zone I tried to look for the ball more."
Ekiya Gray chipped in 16 points while Jeliah Preston also scored in double figures with 12 points.
Neither team could create too much separation in the opening quarter as Temple led 15-12 with less than a minute to play but a made jump shot by Preston and two free throws from Gray helped the Buccaneers cling to a 16-15 lead after one. Preston got the offense going in the first 10 minutes with eight points.
The defense stifled Temple in the second quarter and held the visitors to only three points while the offense for Blinn started looking good in the latter part of the quarter. After early turnovers in the quarter, the Buccaneers rolled out a 15-2 run to end the quarter fueled by six points from Parker for a 31-18 lead at the break.
"It seemed like we were finally able to get some stops and push the ball and have a chance to score," said Blinn head coach Jeff Jenkins. "I thought our defensive effort was good but we just have to play smarter."
Temple gave a good effort in the third quarter, outscoring Blinn 16-13 to get within 44-34 at the start of the fourth but the final quarter was all Blinn.
The Buccaneers scored the first 11 points of the quarter and never looked back. Parker scored nine points in the quarter in taking advantage of the Temple zone and Blinn was able to outscore Temple 24-10 to cruise to a 68-44 victory.
Blinn will next host Odessa College on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 2 p.m.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 32 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.
About Blinn College
With an enrollment of 19,422 students, Blinn ranks among the nation's leaders in transferring students to leading four-year universities and has received national recognition for affordable educational excellence. For more information, visit www.blinn.edu.
