TEMPLE, Texas – The NJCAA named the Blinn College women's basketball team one of the top 25 squads in the nation for the first time since 2008 this afternoon.
Just a few hours later, the Buccaneers showed why , defeating Temple College 66-56 to improve to 4-0 on the season.
"It's well-deserved," said coach Jeff Jenkins. "I think we're going to lose some here and there, but when this team jells together in January or February, they have a chance to be a top-20 team and play with anybody. With as many freshmen as we have, we're still finding ourselves."
It was a sophomore who led the Bucs vs. Temple, as forward Audrisa Harrison scored a game-high 25 points, including 14 in the second half. Jenkins made sure to give credit to the deft passing of guards Tierra Tucker, Moe Bedford and Danielle Espinoza.
"I thought people did a good job finding her in a position to score," he said. "They found her on the break or in the post and passed the ball well tonight."
Freshman forward Fatima Adams scored nine points while Espinoza and Tucker each added seven. Aarika Reyna, Bedford and Darrecia Johnson each scored six for Blinn.
Temple had defeated Blinn's conference rivals, Angelina and San Jacinto, already on the young season, and hung tough with fourth-ranked Trinity Valley in a 10-point loss on the road.
The Buccaneers will host Northwood University's JV at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Blinn P.E. Building. The last time the Bucs were ranked was during the 2007-08 season, when they finished 17th in the national poll.
