ATHENS, Texas — The No. 24 Blinn College women's basketball team (19-5, 8-4) came back from a nine-point, third-quarter deficit to trail by two points, but No. 2 Trinity Valley Community College went 4-for-4 at the free throw line in the final minute for the 76-72 win on Saturday afternoon.

"We played very hard against the second-ranked team in the nation on their home floor," said Jeff Jenkins, Blinn head coach. "I can't say enough about the competitiveness and fight this team showed. We cut the lead down to two points twice in the last minute."

Mia Cherry led Blinn with 16 points, Hailey Atwood scored 11, Tanea Sims recorded 10 to match her season high, and Alanna Spencer had nine.

The Lady Cards and Buccaneers played a close first half as Trinity Valley held a 17-15 lead in the first quarter and Blinn got the Lady Cards' lead down to 35-34 at the half.

Trinity Valley broke away with 25 points in the third quarter to pull ahead 60-51. Blinn rallied to outscore the Lady Cards 21-16 in the final quarter, but fell just short.

Next, the Buccaneers will return home to the Kruse Center to compete against Coastal Bend College on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 5:30 p.m. The Blinn College men's basketball will follow at 7:30 p.m. when the Buccaneers take on Lee College.

Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 41 NJCAA national championships since 1987.