No. 3 Blinn powers past SAGU in non-conference tilt

The third-ranked Blinn College women's basketball team ran away with an 89-42 non-conference home win over Southwestern Assemblies of God University on Monday at the Kruse Center in Brenham, Texas.

Blinn improved to 29-1 overall ahead of its final six games of the season. Each of the Buccaneers' remaining contests will be Region XIV matchups.

Blinn head coach Jeff Jenkins scheduled Monday's non-conference tilt to break up a stretch of seven off days his team would have had due to an annual mid-region bye week.

"I don't like byes," Jenkins said. "It was nice to get another game in before we play Jacksonville on Wednesday and keep the rust off."

Blinn looked anything but rusty in its quick dispatching of the Lions.

(Pictured: Blinn College sophomore guard Crystal Smith drives to the basket for a layup during a game against SAGU on Feb. 13)

The hosts built a 25-9 lead after the first quarter and quickly secured a 20-point advantage in the second when sophomore guard Makayla Patterson fed sophomore forward for a layup and a 34-13 cushion with 5:13 to go.

The Bucs continued to cruise and took a 51-22 lead into halftime.

Blinn's offensive momentum remained steady after the break as the Bucs built a 75-33 lead.

"It was good to get back on the court," sophomore guard Crystal Smith. "We had the off day last Saturday so it was important for us to just get back out there and play our game and get back into the flow of things."

Smith paced her team with 20 points. Sophomore guard Skylar Barnes tallied 11 points and Tullis chipped in 10. 

The Bucs continue their season with a region clash against Jacksonville College at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at the Kruse Center.

Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.