BRENHAM, Texas – No. 14 Blinn College women's basketball came out scoring the first 10 points of the fourth quarter to get the game within striking distance but Trinity Valley Community College was able to hold on for a 69-53 victory Tuesday night inside the P.E. Building.
"I thought we played hard tonight and played aggressive and competed," said Jeff Jenkins, Blinn head coach. "I was actually more proud of them in this loss than I was in our four wins. I believe that we will have a chance to be really good in February."
The Buccaneers opened up Region XIV with a loss to Trinity Valley and now fall to 4-3 on the year.
Ke'Asia Williams led Blinn with 13 points, Karissa Black was hitting her shots from behind the arc to score 12 points. Jade Rochelle was also able to notch double figures with 10 while Daikea Milton stepped up with eight points.
Blinn played well enough to win in the second and fourth quarters but it was the opening quarter and the third that was lacking on both ends of the floor.
The Buccaneers had a tough time getting anything going in the opening quarter and could only muster eight points, with five of those points being scored by Black. Trinity Valley broke open a 22-8 lead after the first.
Blinn played with better energy after the opening quarter as Williams came on and scored six points while Denisha Ford and Rochelle each scored four. The Buccaneers weren't able to gain any ground on Trinity Valley as both teams scored 21 points in the second as Trinity Valley led 43-29 at the half.
The third quarter started out good enough for Blinn as the Buccaneers scored six straight capped by a jumper by Milton to pull Blinn within 49-35. Trinity Valley was able to counter by closing out the third on a 12-3 run to claim a 61-38 lead heading into the final quarter.
To its credit, Blinn didn't just roll over and give up in the fourth. The Buccaneers came out scoring 10 straight points to get within 61-48. Black later hit a 3-pointer to get within 63-51 but that would be as close as the Buccaneers would get in the final minutes. Rochelle and Black each scored four points in the final quarter but Trinity Valley held on for the 16-point victory.
Blinn will hit the road after Thanksgiving with a conference game against Kilgore College on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 5:30 p.m.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 34 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.
