(Pictured: Blinn College sophomore Crystal Smith, left, drives past South Plains' Matilda Soderlund during a game Jan. 7)

The two teams remained neck-and-neck in the second quarter and went into halftime tied at 28.

"We just had to continue with our gameplan," said Patterson, who paced her team with 10 points. "We knew the offense would come eventually, so we just had to lock down on defense and give our shooters a chance."

Those chances came in the second half as the Bucs (12-1) went on a 19-7 run that made it a 47-35 game with 2:20 left in the third period. 

The Texans went on a quick 6-0 burst that made it 52-46 early in the fourth, but back-to-back 3s from sophomore guards Hannah Humphrey and Skylar Barnes pushed the lead back to 12 and kept Blinn in control. 

South Plains battled back once more, pulling within 62-57 with 1:14 left, but sophomore guard Crystal Smith put the game on ice with a pair of free throws with 15 seconds to go.

"We had to focus less on the score and more on keeping each other up," Smith said. "Our energy was good, even when we were down early, and I think that's what allowed us to come back and get this win."

Tullis and Barnes had nine points apiece, and Humphrey finished with eight.

The Buccaneers remain home for a matchup against North American University at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 9.