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Western Texas College’s Rachel Clifton drove to the basket during Thursday’s loss to Clarendon College.
Four players scored in double figures as Clarendon College defeated the Western Texas College Lady Westerners 68-60 in a Western Junior College Athletic Conference basketball game Thursday.
Kea Mays scored 19 points while Kaleigh Stolz and Kai-Lee Valentine each had 17 points. Kelzie Orr finished with 11 points.
Morgan Dial led the Lady Westerners with 19 points. Ashlan Smith, who had 10 rebounds, scored 14 points and Brooke McGee finished with 10 points.
“We were not ready to play and I’m the coach, so that’s on me,” head coach Darryl Davis said. “We knew who the shooters were and didn’t go out and cover them.”
Clarendon took an early 6-0 lead in the first quarter, but the Lady Westerners scored nine of the next 11 points to take a 9-8 lead. The lead changed twice before Valentine made two free throws to give Clarendon College an 18-16 lead going into the second quarter.
WTC tied the game at 20-20, but the Lady Bulldogs regained the lead on consecutive 3-pointers by Mays and Kelzie Orr. Clarendon increased the lead to as many as 12 points before taking a 39-28 halftime lead.
“We had players in the second quarter who put up all kind of shots and that gave confidence to Clarendon,” Davis said. “We didn’t pay attention to details. Clarendon took control of the game in the second quarter and we fought uphill for the rest of the game.”
WTC trailed 52-42 going into the fourth quarter, but could get no closer than five points in the fourth quarter.
“We committed two turnovers and took two bad shots in a row when it got down to five points,” Davis said. “We didn’t make good plays on offense and didn’t stick with our game plan.”
The Lady Westerners (7-14, 2-7) will play at New Mexico Junior College at 5:30 p.m. Monday.
Clarendon College 18 21 13 16—68
WTC 16 12 14 18—60
Clarendon College scorers — Kea Mays 19, Kaleigh Stolz 17, Kai-Lee Valentine 17, Kelzie Orr 11, Lexi Escobal 3, Carria Smith 1.
WTC scorers — Morgan Dial 19, Ashlan Smith 14, Brooke McGee 10, Rachel Clifton 6, Lacy Ferguson 6, Corbriyana Wingfield 2, Jasmine Tinnell 2, Jaelyn Goodloe 1.
WTC statistics — Rachel Clifton 3 rebounds, 2 assists; Morgan Dial 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 blocked shot; Jaelyn Goodloe 9 rebounds, 2 blocked shots; Brooke McGee 7 rebounds, 5 assists; Ashlan Smith 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 blocked shot; Corbriyana Wingfield 2 rebounds, 1 assist; Klarrissa Cruz 4 rebounds, 1 steal; Jasmine Tinnell 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 blocked shot; Lacy Ferguson 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 blocked shot.