The McLennan moved to 2-0 in North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference play with a 63-55 road win over the Weatherford Lady Coyotes.
Weatherford began the scoring less than 10 seconds into the contest with a bucket by Neso Anisiobi followed with a layup from Panagiota Kalogirou to give the Lady Coyotes the early four-point lead. A post move by Danai Lewis put McLennan on the board with 8:28 to go in the first quarter. A free throw from Lanaijha Johnson pulled McLennan within one at 4-3. Weatherford began to create a little distance, pushing the lead to eight at 14-6 with 2:23 to play in the first. McLennan ended the half on an 8-2 run highlighted by six points from Charravia Smith to pull within two going into the second, 16-14.
McLennan was on fire opening the second period. A rebound and put back by Smith tied the game at 16. A basket from Tajenae Gooden plus a free throw from Johnson and 3-pointer from Gooden made it a 19-16 McLennan led with 8:30 to play before the half. A fadeaway jumper from Shakira Brown extended the McLennan run to 10-0 and force Weatherford to burn a timeout. McLennan took the first double-digit lead of the game on a pair of Gooden free throws with 6:11 on the clock, 26-16. Weatherford would be held scoreless in the quarter until the four-and-a-half-minute mark. The Lady Coyotes then rallied down the stretch to cut the McLennan in half at the break, 31-26.
McLennan pushed the lead back to nine, 41-32, before Weatherford put together a 5-0 run with a 3-pointer from Maiya Wesley followed by a basket by Neso Anisiobi to pull within four at 41-37. McLennan held off the charge and led by seven going into the final quarter, 49-42.
McLennan led by eight early in the fourth, 51-43. Weatherford began to fight back and cut the lead back to two at 53-51. McLennan responded with a 6-0 run to extend the lead back to eight, 59-51. The Lady Coyotes pulled within six late but that was as close as they could get.
Tajenae Gooden led McLennan with 19 points and Charravia Smith added 12.
McLennan: Shakira Brown 2 1-4 5; Charnelle Hoof 3 0-0 6; Tajenae Gooden 7 4-4 19; Charravia Smith 4 4-4 12; Trinity Butler 3 0-0 6; Danai Lewis 3 3-4 9; Taniya Cruthird 0 0-0 0; Lanaijha Johnson 2 2-8 6; Totals: 24 14-24 63.
Weatherford: Natalia Arseniadou 2 0-0 4; Maiya Wesley 4 0-0 12; Rileigh Hairston 2 2-2 6; Anja Djukic 0 0-0 0; Panagiota Kalogirou 1 0-0 2; Neso Anisiobi 7 0-2 14; Tiykeah McKenzie 0 1-2 1; Albane Beyaert 4 2-4 10; Lauryn Ebara 2 0-0 6; Totals: 22 5-10 55.
Halftime score: McLennan 31, Weatherford 26; 3-pointers: McLennan 1 (Gooden 1), Weatherford 6 (Wesley 4, Ebara 2); Total fouls: McLennan 21, Weatherford 22; Fouled out: Djukic (Weatherford), Smith (McLennan); Record: McLennan 14-1 (2-0).
