BRENHAM, Texas – Blinn College women's basketball stopped settling for outside jumpers and took the ball to the basket in the second half to help pull out a 70-56 victory over Paris Junior College Saturday afternoon inside the P.E. Building.
The Buccaneers held a slim lead at the half but settled for too many jump shots but that changed in the second half as Blinn grabbed the momentum by driving for easier shots in the key. A strong third quarter where Blinn outscored Paris 24-15 helped the Buccaneers improve to 8-3 overall and 2-2 in Region XIV play.
"I was proud of the effort because it is hard to play conference games in the first semester," said Blinn coach Jeff Jenkins. "If we shoot bad and don't defend than we can get in trouble so we have to do the other things well."
Ekiya Gray was a big difference in the second half as she took her defender off the dribble several times in the second half and ended the game with 16 points.
"I thought this was good for us coming off of a loss," Gray said, after the game. "We just had to come and try to redeem ourselves."
Jeliah Preston also scored 16 points as her outside shot was working well. Bryanna Taylor was able to score 12 points while Penina Faumui chipped in with 10 points in the win.
The first quarter was a game of shifting momentum as Blinn scored the first nine points and Paris countered back by scoring 11 in a row. It was Blinn taking the lead at the end of the first by scoring the final 10 points to take a 19-11 lead after one with six points from Ebony Parker.
Paris came out with more pressure on the perimeter in the second quarter and get within two points but Blinn was able to finish the half strong. Taylor hit a pair of 3-pointers in the quarter and Preston hit a layup with less than a minute in the half to give Blinn a 29-24 lead at the break.
Even though Blinn held a lead at the half, it wasn't playing its best basketball but that changed in the third quarter. The Buccaneers started the third on a 12-2 run thanks to Gray and Faumui to grab a 41-26 lead. Paris recovered slightly in the third but with Gray scoring 10 in the third the Buccaneers held a 53-39 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
"I really think Ekiya can be one of our best players if she decides that she is going to take over the game," Jenkins said. "Nobody can guard her because she is 6-foot-1, can handle the ball and passes well."
Blinn was able to hold off Paris in the fourth as both teams scored 17 points as the Buccaneers cruised to a 14-point victory.
Blinn will travel to face McLennan Community College on Monday, Dec. 7 at 5:30 for a non-conference game.
This game was also Adam's Angels Ministry fundraiser game in which Blinn raises money and awareness for Adam's Angels. Adam's Angels Ministry is called to provide care and comfort for families that are in a battle against childhood cancer. The fundraising effort is part of Blinn's annual Adopt-a-Charity program in which all Blinn athletic programs dedicate a portion of their gate proceeds towards a charity. For more information on Adam's Angels Ministry visit www.adamsangelsministry.org.
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.
