The McLennan women's basketball squad hustled for a 72-56 victory over the Howard Hawks this afternoon in the quarterfinals of the Region V Tournament in Odessa.
The first half was very much a back-and-forth battle. Charravia Smith began the scoring with a floater for McLennan a minute and 20 seconds into the game. Howard tied it with a layup by Kailyn Berry. McLennan began to pull away, taking the three-point lead on a Tajenae Gooden 3-pointer at 7-3 with 7:19 to go in the first. It would be McLennan up by one at 9-8 but the Hawks ended on a 4-0 run to lead 12-9 after one quarter of play.
Howard added a pair of Makyala Ellison free throws early in the second to go up by five, 14-9. McLennan responded with a 5-0 run including another Gooden 3-pointer and put-back bucket by Charnelle Hoof to tied the game at 14 with 8:47 to go in the second. After trading baskets and the lead, Howard led 19-18 with just over six minutes on the clock. A 6-0 run for McLennan including four points from Trinity Butler put the squad up 24-19. Howard's Ellison added four points to pull the Hawks within one, 24-23, but Lanaijha Johnson added a pair of free throws late to make it a three-point McLennan lead at halftime, 26-23.
McLennan came out on fire to start the third. The squad opened on a 14-0 run, holding Howard scoreless for over four minutes of play, 40-23. Abrianna Lawrence and Ellison went 3-5 from the free throw line to briefly halt the McLennan threat. McLennan continued to pull away, pushing the lead to 20 at 48-28 with 3:50 to go in the third. The squad held Howard to just one field goal in the frame and led 56-36 going into the fourth.
In the final quarter, Howard picked up its scoring pace but McLennan was able to hold the Hawks off for the lop-sided victory.
Charnelle Hoof led McLennan with 19 points. Tajenae Gooden and Charravia Smith scored 14 points each, and Lanaijha Johnson added 12.
McLennan: Nevaeh Otis 0 0-0 0; Ar'Mya Amos-Horsley 0 0-0 0; Shakira Brown 0 2-2 2; Charnelle Hoof 8 3-5 19; Tajenae Gooden 5 0-0 14; Charravia Smith 6 2-2 14; Trinity Butler 3 2-2 8; Danai Lewis 1 1-1 3;Lanaijha Johnson 5 2-2 12; Totals: 28 12-14 72
Howard: Crystal Aragon 0 2-4 2; Aubre Prox 4 3-4 11; Agathe Lerat 1 0-0 2; Makayla Ellison 5 13-14 25; Abrianna Lawrence 04- 4; Awa Massamba 1 2-2 4; Daja Jefferson 0 0-0 0; Kailyn Berry 2 0-0 4; Talia Vea 2 0-0 4; Totals: 15 24-33 56.
Halftime score: McLennan 26, Howard 23; 3-pointers: McLennan 4 (Gooden 4), Howard 2 (Ellison 2); Total fouls: McLennan 26, Howard 13; Fouled out: Lewis (McLennan); Record: McLennan 25-5 (12-4)
