No. 17 McLennan women edge out No. 22 Collin

In a game that came down to the final possession, the No. 17 McLennan women's basketball squad defeated the No. 22 Collin Cougars 59-56. 

McLennan built an early four-point lead at 6-2 with Charravia Smith hitting a pair of shots and Nevaeh Otis adding a pair of free throws. Collin rallied to tie the game at eight with 4:52 to go in the first. The two teams traded baskets with McLennan leading 16-14 at the end of the quarter following a last-second put back by Smith. 

McLennan stepped up its game in the second. With the game tied at 16, a floater by Charnelle Hoof followed by a 3-pointer from the wing from Ar'Mya Amos-Horsley put the squad up 21-16 with just under seven minutes to go before the half. Back-to-back buckets by Collin pulled the Cougars back within one, 21-20. McLennan responded with an 8-0 run, including four points from Otis, to take its largest lead of the game, 29-20 with 2:48 to go. Collin added three points late to make it a 29-23 McLennan advantage at the half. 

Collin opened the third quarter on a 4-0 run to cut the lead to two, 29-27. McLennan responded with a 7-0 run highlighted by a 3-pointer from Tajenae Gooden to push the lead back to nine, 36-27. Collin chipped away late in the period and trailed by just three going into the final period, 40-37. 

The Cougars pulled within one several times early in the fourth, and McLennan held the 46-43 cushion at the final media timeout. Collin continued to fight and took the 47-46 lead with 3:52 remaining in the game. After more back-and-forth, the game was tied at 51 with 1:41 to play. McLennan took the lead on a Gooden basket and added a bucket from Johnson to lead 55-51 with 36 seconds to go. Taliah Martin added a jumper for Collin and Taniya Cruthird went 1-2 from the line to make it 56-53 McLennan with 17.25 seconds on the clock. Collin advance the ball before throwing away the inbound pass. Gooden added a pair of free throws for McLennan to extend the lead to five 58-53. Collin was able to cut the lead to three multiple times but couldn't get any closer. 

Charravia Smith led McLennan with 19 points, and Lanaijha Johnson added 10. 

Collin: Gabby Morales 4 1-3 9; Trinity Thomas 0 0-0 0; Ella Macleod 5 5-6 16; Mufaro Mapengo 2 4-6 8; Sara Basaran 6 2-3 15; Taliah Martin 4 0-0 8; Totals: 21 13-18 56. 

McLennan: Nevaeh Otis 2 2-2 6; Ar'Mya Amos-Horsley 1 0-0 3; Shakira Brown 0 0-0 0; Charnelle Hoof 2 0-0 4; Tajenae Gooden 2 3-6 8; Charravia Smith 9 1-4 19; Trinity Butler 0 2-2 2; Danai Lewis 0 0-0 0; Taniya Cruthird 2 3-4 7; Lanaijha Johnson 5 0-0 010; Totals: 23 11-18 59. 

Halftime score: McLennan 29, Collin 23; 3-pointers: Collin 0, McLennan 2 (Amos-Horsley 1, Gooden 1); Total fouls: Collin 14, McLennan 18; Fouled out: Mapengo (Collin); Record: McLennan 21-5 (9-4).