WOMEN FALL; MEN WIN IN BUC HOOPS DOUBLEHEADER

Struggles in third quarter cost No. 19 Buccaneer women the game against Angelina, 85-79

Rebounding and scoring of Dukes helps Blinn men past Angelina, 97-84

WOMEN

Blinn outscored by Angelina 28-10 in decisive third quarter

BRENHAM, Texas – No. 19 Blinn College women’s basketball really only had one bad quarter Saturday afternoon but that quarter was enough to hand Angelina College an 85-79 upset victory over the Buccaneers inside the P.E. Building.

Angelina outscored Blinn 28-10 in the fateful third quarter to snap a 10-game winning streak as the Buccaneers fell to 21-7 with the loss and 13-5 in Region XIV play. This is the first loss for Blinn since Jan. 9 at Tyler Junior College.

Ebony Parker led Blinn with 24 points while Ekiya Gray added 21 points. Penina Faumui was able to chip in 15 points in the loss. Caitlyn Lambert scored 18 points to lead Angelina to victory.

The third quarter was the only quarter that Blinn didn’t score more than Angelina as the Buccaneers got off to a great start. Faumui was hitting her shots for Blinn in the opening quarter with nine points as the Buccaneers turned an 11-11 tie into a 23-14 lead after one period with a 12-3 run capped by a 3-pointer from Parker.

The second quarter was fairly even as each team went on a run. Angelina got within 25-22 in the opening minutes then Parker added two 3-pointers to a 10-2 run for a 35-24 lead with 5:50 left in the half. The shooting of Parker kept Blinn in the lead as she scored 11 points the quarter to guide the Buccaneers to a 46-36 lead at the break.

Angelina came out aggressive in the third quarter and scored 28 points while Blinn had a hard time getting shots to fall. After outscoring Blinn 28-10, Angelina held a 64-56 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Blinn did play much better offensively in the fourth quarter and even used an 8-3 run to get within 69-64 with 7:41 to play after a jumper by Gray. The Buccaneers were able to get the deficit to five on two more occasions in the fourth but couldn’t get any closer as Angelina held on for the six-point victory.

Blinn will play its final road game of the regular season with a matchup against No. 4 Trinity Valley Community College Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 5:30 p.m.

MEN

Buccaneers reach 20 wins for second consecutive year

BRENHAM, Texas – Victor Dukes made a huge difference with his rebounding and scoring down low to help guide Blinn College men’s basketball to a 97-84 victory over Angelina College Saturday afternoon inside the P.E. Building.

The Buccaneers turned on the offense in the second half with 60 points to help stop a two-game conference losing streak and improve their overall record to 20-8 and 9-8 in Region XIV play. This victory gives Blinn its second straight 20-win season.

“I thought in the second half that we just played with more energy,” said Blinn coach Scott Schumacher. “That was a big win for us.”

Dukes was able to reach double figures in rebounding and led the team with 25 points off the bench for the Buccaneers.

“During warm ups coach told me he wanted me to dominate the rebounding,” Dukes said. “The second half we had some transition buckets and we not give up too many second chances.”

Morris Dunnigan was able to pour in 22 points while Corey Henderson and John Dewey each scored 16 points in the win.

Angelina was the team that came out strong in the first half by grabbing a 21-14 lead with 9:28 left in the half. Blinn compiled a 14-4 run to take a 28-25 lead with 5:34 left while Dukes scored eight points during that span.

Dukes scored 12 points in the first half and added a layup just before the halftime buzzer to give the Buccaneers a 37-35 lead at the break.

Blinn kept the momentum going in the second half with a 10-1 run that was fueled by six points from James Harrison to give the Buccaneers a 47-39 lead with 15:33 left. Blinn was relentless in the second half as a quartet of players scored in double figures as Dukes and Dunnigan scored 13 apiece, Henderson added 12 and Dewey chipped in 10 points in the second half.

After Dunnigan hit a layup to give Blinn an 84-71 lead, Angelina resorted to fouling in an attempt to get back into the game. The plan backfired as the Buccaneers hit 13-of-16 free throws in the final 2:23 to maintain their lead and cruise to the 13-point victory.

Blinn will head on its final road game of the season facing Lamar State College – Port Arthur on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m.

For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.

(Story & photos courtesy, Jake Gordon, Blinn Information)