BRENHAM, Texas – Five Buccaneer players scored in double digits Wednesday as the 14th-ranked Blinn College women's basketball team wore down Cisco College 91-82 in a fast-paced contest at the Blinn P.E. Building.
The Buccaneers, who improved to 16-0 with the victory, trailed 50-48 at halftime, but began pulling away with 11 minutes remaining.
"Our depth made the difference," Blinn coach Jeff Jenkins said. "We probably played 10 people and Cisco played seven or eight. I think we just wore them out late."
The Buccaneers took their first double-digit lead with 9:25 to go in the game as freshman forward Fatima Adams found sophomore Audrisa Harison crashing the paint for a layup. Cisco would cut the lead to 86-80 with 1:30 remaining, but freshman guard Tierra Tucker hit a pair of free throws and Harrison hit a jumper from the top of the key with 30 seconds remaining to help put the game away.
With the win, Blinn has defeated all 14 of its non-conference opponents this season.
"And we don't play an easy schedule," Jenkins said. "We told the players we're proud of them."
Harrison led the Buccaneers with 20 points while sophomore guard Jazzmin Parker and Adams each scored 14. Sophomore guard Aarika Reyna scored 11, freshman Danielle Espinoza chipped in 10 and Tucker finished with seven.
Khala Riley led Cisco with 20 points while Isis Johnson scored 18 and Jasmine Baskin added 17. The Lady Wranglers fell to 2-14 on the season.
Blinn defeated Cisco 79-74 on Nov. 6.
"I thought they played hard," Jenkins said. "They have really good guards, they just don't have many of them. I think they out-coached and out-hustled tonight, I just think the talent prevailed. I think we're more talented than them and that was the difference."
The game served as a tune-up prior to the Buccaneers' match-up with fifth-ranked Trinity Valley Community College. Trinity Valley, the defending Region XIV Conference champion, is 14-1 on the season and 1-0 in league play.
The Cardinals are led by Adut Bulgak, who is averaging 16.3 points per game this season, and Shannon Smith, who has posted 14.2 points this season.
Harrison leads the Buccaneers with 14.2 points per game. Blinn's offense is averaging 89.3 points per game, the most in the conference.
Trinity Valley won both meetings last season.
"We have the talent and the depth to beat them this year, I just don't know if we're ready Wednesday or not," Jenkins said. "I guess we'll find out."
