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Western Texas College’s Morgan Dial, who scored 22 points, dribbled away from two Frank Phillips College defenders during Thursday’s 79-66 win.
The Western Texas College Lady Westerners players followed the advice of head coach Darryl Davis by starting Thursday’s game with a quick lead.
WTC built a 22-8 first-quarter lead and never looked back in defeating Frank Phillips College 79-66 in a Western Junior College Athletic Conference basketball game Thursday.
“We have been talking about how we started games and needed a faster start,” Davis said. “I our told the players to focus and play with a purpose. We learned from playing four nationally ranked teams in a row and became a better team. We are better rebounding, we shot well and got the ball to the posts. The first quarter was good.”
Frank Phillips outscored WTC 23-15 in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 37-31.
“We were playing too fast in the second quarter and took quick shots,” Davis said. “We were trying to force things too much.”
WTC’s Morgan Dial scored a game-high 22 points, making 6-of-8 from the field, including 4-of-6 3-pointers. Ashlan Smith had 14 points, 17 rebounds, one assist and one steal.
“I challenged Smith to play better and she did that,” Davis said. “She is one of the better posts in the conference. She had success in this game. Morgan is one of the best shooters around.”
David did have a simple message for his team at halftime.
“We talked about cleaning our game up,” he said. “After Frank Phillips cut our lead to 50-49 in the third quarter, I called a timeout and told them to refocus and control what they could control. We went back and did things that had been working for us.”
WTC led 55-49 going into the fourth quarter.
“We wanted to get on the shooters,” Davis said. “When we were in the transition game, we didn’t do that.”
Davis said extra emphasis on shooting during practice paid off.
“We worked on shooting, but it was not just the guards,” he said. “We needed our posts to do that too and they did.”
The Lady Westerners (6-12, 2-5) will play a non-conference game against Palo Alto College at 2 p.m. Saturday in San Antonio. WTC’s next conference game will be at home against Howard College on Feb. 4.
“Sometimes you win and it starts a big win streak,” Davis said. “We need to build on this game.”
Frank Phillips 8 23 18 17—66
WTC 22 15 18 24—79
Frank Phillips scorers — Trinity Ramirez 14, Jordan Taylor 14, Sable Darnell 13, Jazmin Rios 12, A’yona Wilson 5, Amanda Dixson 4, De’Ajia Williams 2. Emeisha Fields 2.
WTC scorers — Morgan Dial 22, Ashlan Smith 14, Marta Casas Gimenez 9, Jaelyn Goodloe 9, Klarrissa Cruz 7, Lacy Ferguson 6, Brooke McGee 5, Jasmine Tinnell 5, Rachel Clifton 2.
WTC statistics — Rachel Clifton 1 assist; Morgan Dial 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals; Marta Casas Gimenez 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals; Brooke McGee 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal; Ashlan Smith 17 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal; Klarrissa Cruz 2 rebounds, 2 assists; Jasmine Tinnell 4 rebounds, 1 assist; Lacy Ferguson 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals; Jaelyn Goodloe 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal.