Western Texas College rode solid performances from freshman Shuntorri Rodgers and sophomore Morgan Dial to a 62-42 win over Howard College Thursday.
The duo combined to score 31 of the Lady Westerners’ 62 points as WTC overpowered the Lady Hawks.
The Lady Hawks took control late in the first quarter after the two teams were dead even at 8-8 after the first five minutes. A pair of 3-pointers in the final two minutes gave the Lady Hawks the early 17-13 lead.
Their offense ran out of steam and WTC outscored the Lady Hawks 14-6 in the quarter.
Dial got things rolling for the Lady Westerners in the second quarter with a 3-pointer. Howard College scored the next four points, extending its lead to 21-16, but WTC took over from there. A pair of free throws by sophomore Brooke McGee and five points from Rodgers resulted in an 11-2 run over the final few minutes of the first half. WTC led 27-23 at halftime.
The Lady Hawks were able to draw within two points in the first few minutes of the third quarter before a pair of McGee layups stretched WTC’s lead again. Rodgers and Dial combined to score six points over the final two minutes and WTC led the Lady Hawks 41-32 heading into the final quarter.
After a sluggish start to the fourth quarter, WTC sophomore Marta Casas Gimenez’s layup broke open the scoring. Dial hit a pair of 3-pointers and Rodgers scored seven points helping the Lady Westerners put up a 21-point fourth quarter and 62-42 win.
WTC improved to 8-9 on the season and 2-4 in WJCAC play. They will host Clarendon College at 5:45 p.m. Monday.
WTC statistics: Morgan Dial, 16 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals; Shuntorri Rodgers, 15 points, 8 rebounds, 5 steals, 5 blocks; Brooke McGee, 10 points, 4 rebounds; Marta Casas Gimenez, 8 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists; Kimberly Best, 5 points, 6 rebounds; Jasmine Tinnell, 4 points, 10 rebounds; Clarrissa Francis, 4 points, 5 rebounds.