BLINN WOMEN DOWN TEMPLE, 79-68

Hailey Atwood scores a season-high 18 points

BRENHAM, Texas — Hailey Atwood scored a season-high 18 points to help lead the Blinn College women’s basketball team (8-1) to a 79-68 victory over Temple College on Wednesday night in the Kruse Center.

“We played hard all night and Hailey, Jessica Soders, and Briauna Johnson really had good games and stepped it up,” Jeff Jenkins, Blinn head coach said. “The bench played really well in the third quarter for our starters to get some rest and they expanded the lead, so everyone contributed to this win tonight.”

Gabriela Bosquez, Johnson and Soders followed Atwood on offense with 10 points each, while Kristine Ezimako and Alanna Spencer each scored eight.

“Tonight I came out determined to help my team because a lot of my teammates have been doing well offensively and I really wanted to contribute tonight, so I played hard,” Atwood said. “We all have bonded together as a unit and have bought into the system that Coach Jenkins has in place for us. We really are able to hype each other up to be better each game.”

Temple took off on a 7-0 run to open the game and finished the quarter with a seven-point lead, 20-14, but Blinn bounced  in the second quarter.

Blinn went on a 7-0 run capped off by a two-pointer by Ezimako to take a 21-20 lead at 7:28 mark. The Buccaneers continued to build their lead as Ezimako and Spencer hit back-to-back shots from downtown to hold a 29-22 advantage. Atwood led Blinn on a 6-0 run with four points for the Buccaneers to lead by 11 points (35-24). Two straight three-pointers allowed Temple to close in on Blinn, but the Buccaneers kept a 40-36 lead at the break.

Johnson opened the third quarter with a three-pointer and the Buccaneers climbed to a 50-40 lead following a couple of two-pointers by Atwood. Blinn ended the quarter on a 7-1 run and Bosquez’s two-pointer at the buzzer put Blinn on top 64-45 entering the fourth.

In the final quarter, Soders kicked things off for Blinn with a three-pointer. Temple went on a 11-0 run to pull within 10 points of Blinn, but Atwood jumped in for two shots and Soders scored the final three points for the Buccaneers to earn the 79-68 win.

Next, the Blinn women’s basketball team will open a doubleheader in the Kruse Center against Collin County Community College on Saturday, November 23, at 2 p.m. The Blinn men’s basketball team will follow at 4 p.m. as the Buccaneers open conference play against Paris Junior College.

For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.

(COURTESY: Tara Dreyer, Blinn Information)