BASKETBALL: Second-half struggles cost Lady Chaps in loss to No. 17 Clarendon
Bad possessions on both ends of the floor, cost the Midland College women’s basketball team a chance to knock off a ranked foe on Monday night.
By Oscar LeRoy
Midland Reporter-Telegram
MIDLAND, TEXAS - The Lady Chaparrals let a second half lead slip away and No. 17-ranked Clarendon College hit some big outside shots as the Bulldogs survived for a 62-55 Western Junior College Athletic Conference victory at Chaparral Center.
A key stretch for Clarendon (18-1, 2-1 in WJCAC) came at the beginning of the fourth quarter when it went on an 11-0 run to gain some separation.
The Bulldogs also got a game-high 23 points from Aileen Marquez, who had 12 of her points in the third quarter, which gave them the lead for good.
But the Lady Chaps (7-11, 2-2) were their own worst enemy on this night as well. They shot just 27.7% from the floor, including a chilly 10% (2 of 20) from 3-point range, and turned the ball over 20 times.
Needless to say, MC coach Ron Jones was not pleased with his team's struggles and sloppiness that spoiled as much as a 29-19 lead for his team in the third quarter.
MC jumped out to an 11-4 lead in the first quarter and led 26-19 at intermission Clarendon was held to 16.7% shooting in the first half.
"I look at the turnovers and the possessions that weren't good possessions," Jones said. "We don't handle adversity really well. We did a great job on the boards (50-36 advantage), we do a great job defensively in the first half. We were aggressive, we were in a stance. In the second half, it looked like we were trying to hold on. We just didn't play with the same mentality.
"We don't have enough margin for error to take possessions off. We did some good things, but it doesn't make a difference if you don't win."
The Lady Chaps were also without leading scorer and freshman guard Janay Quinn. Jones said she is currently not with the team and did not elaborate further.
Desiree Smith led the Lady Chaps with a double-double of 17 points and 15 rebounds, Nikki Sainsbury added 10 points, Savana Goodson had eight points, and Frida Schmidt added 10 rebounds.
Mah Minthe added 14 points for Clarendon.
MC will look to snap a two-game losing streak when it travels to face Western Texas College at 5:45 p.m. Thursday.
Follow Oscar on Twitter: @OLeRoy_MRT
NO. 17 CLARENDON COLLEGE 62, MIDLAND COLLEGE 55
Clarendon College (18-1, 2-1) – JoJo Munroe 3-9 3-4 9, Mah Minthe 3-15 5-6 14, Aileen Marquez 7-15 5-5 23, Autumn Wadsworth 0-2 0-0 0, Djessira Diawara 3-9 1-3 7, Deairah Mays 0-4 3-5 3, Lauryn Williams 0-2 0-0 0, Taylor Lewis 0-1 0-0 0, Camila Contreras 3-6 0-0 6. Totals 19-63 17-23 62
Midland College (7-11, 2-2) – Desiree Smith 4-14 9-13 17, Luka Wouters 0-3 1-2 1, Luisa Anderegg 1-5 2-2 4, Nikki Sainsbury 3-7 4-5 10, Franka Kraus 2-7 0-0 4, Taja Stephens 0-5 0-0 0, Safena Williams 0-1 0-0 0, Savana Goodson 4-9 0-3 8, Tinu Fakunle 3-7 0-0 7, Frida Schmidt 1-7 1-2 4. Totals 18-65 17-27 55
Clarendon 4 15 21 24 -- 62
Midland 11 15 12 17 -- 55
3-point goals – CC 7-25 (Marquez 4-9, Minthe 3-6, Munroe 0-4, Wadsworth 0-2, Mays 0-2, Williams 0-2), MC 2-20 (Fakunle 1-2, Schmidt 1-5, Wouters 0-1, Anderegg 0-2, Sainsbury 0-4, Kraus 0-1, Stephens 0-5). Total fouls – CC 19, MC 20. Fouled out -- Diawara. Technical fouls – Contreras, Mays. Rebounds – CC 36 (Diawara 9, Minthe 9), MC 50 (Smith 15). Assists – CC 8 (Munroe 4), MC 9 (Three with 2). Turnovers – CC 19, MC 20.
2022-23 WJCAC Woen's Basketball Standings
| Conference | Overall | |||
| W | L | W | L | |
| New Mexico Junior College | 3 | 0 | 14 | 2 |
| South Plains College | 2 | 0 | 8 | 7 |
| Clarendon College | 2 | 1 | 18 | 1 |
| Odessa College | 2 | 1 | 9 | 5 |
| Midland College | 2 | 2 | 7 | 11 |
| Howard College | 1 | 2 | 10 | 8 |
| Frank Phillips College | 0 | 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Western Texas College | 0 | 4 | 5 | 11 |
Monday's Scores
Clarendon College 62, Midland College 55; South Plains College 83, Frank Phillips College 58; New Mexico JC 68, Western Texas College 39; Howard College and Odessa College were open
Thursday's Games
Midland College at Western Texas College; Frank Phillips College at Clarendon College; South Plains College at New Mexico JC; Odessa College and Howard College are open