November 29, 2009
When the Midland College women’s basketball team took the floor on Saturday afternoon, the emphasis for Coach Ron Jones was defense.
However, after No. 4 Midland College sank five 3-pointers in the first four minutes of its game with Fort Bliss, the defense took a bit of a back seat as the Lady Chaps pummeled Fort Bliss, 108-68, at Chaparral Center during the final day of the MC Thanksgiving Classic.
Titania Simmons hit two 3-pointers while Jessi Cowden, Lauren Mansfield and Brittany Wilson each had one to give MC a 15-7 lead less than four minutes into the first half.
“Our plan was to focus more on defense,” MC freshman guard Titania Simmons said. “I think the zone defense they were running gave us some open shots.”
The Lady Chaps (10-1) had seven players in double figures including foward Shaquiri Graham, who had 17 points to lead the Lady Chaps. Mansfield and Wilson both had 15 points, Cowden 14, Heather Sheppard 12 and Simmons and Erika Warren each scored 11.
Everybody who played got at least one point.
The Lady Chaps ended the day with 14 3-pointers, shooting 43 percent behind the arc.
“We just kind of take whatever the defense gives us,” Jones said. “I think this game was kind of hard to play because we got up big early.”
The Lady Chaps took a 46-25 lead into halftime and outscored Fort Bliss in the second half, 62-43.
Jones said he wasn’t entirely pleased with the defensive effort in the second half.
“I don’t like giving up 43 points in the second half,” Jones said. “That’s not what we want to do. It’s hard to keep our concentration when we get up big like that though.”
Though the Lady Chaps gave up 43 second-half points, Midland College held Fort Bliss (7-3) scoreless for almost the final three minutes as MC went on a 9-0 run to take a 106-60 lead
“I think we’re getting better each game,” Jones said. “We’re still a young team and from an execution stand point, offensively we have a long way to go as far as how we execute in the halfcourt.
The Lady Chaps scored their 100th point of the game when a Wilson 3-pointer gave MC a 102-60 lead with 2:23 left.
“I think everybody on the team are good shooters,” Simmons said. “This is the type of game we like. I think we had a good outside shooting game. Coach told us (at halftime) to keep up our energy even though we’re beating them pretty good.”
No. 4 Midland College 108, Fort Bliss 68
Fort Bliss (7-3): Renieda Moody 8-15 0-2 19, Meredith Watts 5-16 0-0 10, Erica Cissee 4-8 2-5 10, Chantilly Lane 3-6 0-0 8, Kristyn Flanagan 3-6 0-0 8, Andriea Borrego 3-11 0-0 6, Megan Mayhew 2-4 0-0 4, Cathy Turner 1-5 0-0 3, Gina Mercado 0-4 0-0 0, Stephanie Gentry 0-1 0-0 0, Daniela Dale 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-76 2-9 68.
Midland College (10-1): Shaquiri Graham 6-10 4-5 17, Brittany Wilson 6-6 0-0 15, Lauren Mansfield 5-8 3-3 15, Jessi Cowden 5-8 0-0 14, Heather Sheppard 6-12 0-2 12, Erika Warren 4-8 3-3 11, Titania Simmons 3-8 2-2 11, Patricia Bright 3-8 0-0 6, Tanica Anderson 1-6 0-0 3, Robnesha Brigham 1-2 1-2 3, Alexis Hewett 0-3 1-2 1. Totals 40-79 14-19 108.
Halftime — Midland College 45-26. 3-point goals — Fort Bliss 8-23 (Moody 3-4, Lane 2-3, Flanagan 2-3, Turner 1-5, Watts 0-5, Mercado 0-2, Mayhew 0-1), Midland College 14-32 (Cowden 4-7, Wilson 3-3, Simmons 3-8, Mansfield 2-4, Anderson 1-3, Graham 1-2, Warren 0-3, Brigham 0-1, Bright 0-1). Fouled out — None. Rebounds — Fort Bliss 43 (Watts 12), Midland College 51 (Sheppard 8). Assists — Fort Bliss 10 (Turner 3), Midland College 16 (Mansfield, 6). Total fouls — Fort Bliss 16, Midland College 9. Technical Fouls — Fort Bliss (Bench). A — N/A
Next game: Weatherford College at Midland College, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Chap Center.