The McLennan women rolled over the Ranger Lady Rangers 63-51 this afternoon in conference play.
McLennan opened the game on 7-0 with four points from the post by Lanaijha Johnson and a 3-pointer from the corner by Trinity Butler. A jumper by Akyla Fields put Ranger on the board with 7:40 to play in the first. McLennan responded with a 4-0 run to make it a nine-point lead at 11-2. The Lady Rangers added a pair of free throws from Mia Ross before Ross received back-to-back technical fouls leading to her ejection. Butler went 2-4 from the free throw line to push the lead back to nine, 13-4. Ranger rallied to cut the lad to four with 3:45 to play in the first, 15-11. McLennan began to pull away, with Tajenae Gooden and Charravia Smith combining for seven points to take the first double-digit lead at 22-11. McLennan led 25-13 with when Fields hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to make it 25-16 McLennan after the first.
The second quarter was calmer with both teams operating on a slower tempo. McLennan dominated on both ends of the court. The squad scored eight while holding the Lady Rangers scoreless for more than eight minutes of play. McLennan led 33-18 with one minute to play before the half. Shakira Brown drained a 3-pointer to make it 36-20 before Imani Johnson added a basket for Ranger to make it 36-20 McLennan at the break.
Ranger carried the momentum into the start of the third quarter, opening on a 3-0 run to cut the McLennan lead to 13, 36-23. McLennan continued to lead by 13 at 40-27 before going on a 10-2 run highlighted by a 3-pointer by Taniya Cruthird to lead 50-29. Ranger ended the frame on a 3-0 run to make it a 17-point McLennan advantage going into the final period, 50-33.
McLennan led by 19 a couple times early in the fourth but Ranger didn't quit. The Lady Rangers pulled within 12 midway through the quarter but McLennan held them at arm's length the rest of the way.
Tajenae Gooden led McLennan with 13 points, and Charravia Smith added 11. Trinity Butler and Lanaijha Johnson scored 10 each.
Ranger: Akyla Fields 6 4-6 18; Mia Ross 0 2-2 2; Kayleigh Murphy 2 0-0 4; Andrea Doval 0 0-0 0; Mahinarangi Bezzant 2 0-0 4; Favour Emeka 1 0-0 2; Imani Johnson 4 3-4 12; Elissa Means 1 1-2 3; Kahlea Samples 0 0-0 0; Totals: 18 12-17 51.
McLennan: Nevaeh Otis 0 0-0 0; Ar'Mya Amos-Horsley 0 0-0 0; Shakira Brown 1 1-2 4; Charnelle Hoof 4 0-1 8; Tajenae Gooden 5 3-4 13; Charravia Smith 3 5-6 11; Trinity Butler 2 5-7 10; Danai Lewis 1 2-2 4; Taniya Cruthird 1 0-2 3; Lanaijha Johnson 5 0-1 10; Kamara Effit 0 0-0 0; Totals: 22 16-25 63.
Halftime score: McLennan 36, Ranger 20; 3-pointers: Ranger 3 (Fields 2, Johnson 1), McLennan 3 (Brown 1, Butler 1, Cruthird 1); Total fouls: Ranger 18, McLennan 16; Fouled out: Means (Ranger); Ejection: Ross (Ranger); Record: McLennan 15-1 (3-0).
