Texan Mosaic

by NICK ALVARADO/Editorial Assistant

The South Plains College women’s basketball team concluded their run in the NJCAA Region V Tournament on a low note, losing to Collin County in the first round.

The Lady Texans had won seven of their last 10 games to qualify for the tournament and end the regular season.

But the late-season momentum was brought to a halt by a 69-58 loss in the first round of the Region V Tournament on March 3. Freshman Dabraisia Baty led the Lady Texans in scoring with 15 points, shooting 50 percent from the field. Freshman Jasmyne Martin scored 11 points and collected five rebounds,while freshman Yanina Inkina and Elizabeth Cera each contributed 10 points.

The Lady Texans took a 35-33 lead at the half, shooting 43 percent from the field. The defense was also present, forcing 20 turnovers that turned into 19 points.

Taylor Jackson led the Lady Cougars with 15 points, while Micayla Bucker had 13 points and Dierra Ely added 12 points.

In individual statistics for the Lady Texans on the season, Cera finished fifth in the WJCAC in points per game, averaging 12.9 points per game.

Freshman Ugochinyere Nwarie finished eighth in the conference in rebounds per game, averaging 6.1 boards per contest.

Inkina, a freshman forward, finished fifth in field goal percentage in conference play, shooting 45.9 percent on the season. Martin also finished in the top 10 in field goal percentage, shooting 45.3 percent.

Cera also finished fifth in three-point shooting percentage in conference play, shooting 36.9 percent behind the arc. Freshman Taylor Holley also was listed in the top 10, shooting 34.7 percent.

Baty and Inkina were selected to the WJCAC All-Conference team released on March 20. Baty averaged 8 points per game, shot 35 percent from the floor and averaged 4.5 assists per game.

The Lady Texans ended the season with a 20-11 overall record and an 8-6 record in conference play, advancing to the Region V Tournament after a year absence.

The Lady Texans will return all their roster from this season, pending transfers and new recruits heading into the next season and could be a team to watch when conference play arrives.