Lady Texans lose a heartbreaker to Odessa

LEVELLAND - Ashley Roberts scored a game high 28 points and the South Plains College Lady Texans played quite possibly their best basketball game of the year but fell just short of the winning end of a 78-71 overtime score.

Roberts put the Lady Texans up 67-65 with a made free throw and had a chance to force Odessa into a three-point shot but her second attempt rattled in and out. With only 20-seconds remaining Odessa's J'Tierra Brown scored on the other end, leaving 14 seconds on the game clock.

Roberts nearly turned the ball over dribbling on the far sideline, but Kayla Turner tied it up and the officials called a jump ball. The possession arrow gave SPC another chance in regulation with only three seconds to go in the contest. Seventh year head coach Michelle Wyatt called a timeout to talk it over with her squad.

Coming out of the timeout, Roberts dribbled to the paint and attempted a wild shot that went off the back board. Stephanie Moore grabbed the rebound, but her put-back at the buzzer did not go and the two teams went into an extra period.

The two teams went back-and-forth exchanging points over the first half of the extra period, but with the score tied 71-71 Odessa (13-5, 2-0) scored the final seven points of the game to earn their second conference victory. The Lady Texans fell to 3-15 overall and remain winless in Western Junior College Athletic Conference (WJCAC) play at 0-2.

South Plains played shorthanded for the final minutes of the second half and overtime asShea MyattSydney Hearn, and reserve Tyeisha Mitchell all fouled out of the game. Myatt checked out of the game with 2:17 remaining in the game having scored 14 points. 

Roberts shot only 6-of-19 from the field but took advantage of the opportunities at the free throw line, sinking 13-of-16. Roberts played a game high 43 minutes. 

The Lady Texans will be on the road for both games next week when they travel to Borger for a matchup with the Lady Plainsmen of Frank Phillips College (5-10, 0-2) on Monday, January 23 followed by a trip to New Mexico Junior College (16-2, 1-0) in Hobbs, N.M. on Thursday, January 26.

Odessa (13-5, 2-0)
Jessica Lofton-Williams 0-0 0-0 0, Chanell Lockhart 4-11 0-2 8, Kristyn Wilson 4-10 0-0 8, Meagan Bell 0-2 0-0 0, J'Tierra Brown 9-18 8-11 26, Angenay Williams 2-8 2-2 8, Jamie Drummer 6-13 1-1 13, Lauren Berry 2-6 0-0 4, Caroline Adesulu 3-7 5-8 11. Totals 30-75 16-24 78

South Plains College (3-15, 0-2)
Avril Matthews 0-0 0-0 0, Ashley Roberts 6-19 13-16 28, Moneeka Carter 4-7 0-0 8,Lakeeyscia Griffin 0-0 0-0 0, Kayla Turner 0-8 0-0 0, Shea Myatt 5-11 1-1 14, Tyeisha Mitchell 1-3 3-6 5, Sydney Hearn 2-5 0-0 4, Stephanie Moore 4-7 4-5 12. Totals 22-60 21-28 71
SCORE BY PERIODS 1st 2nd OT1 TOTAL
Odessa 29 38 11 78
South Plains College 28 39 4 71

FG%: Odessa .400, South Plains College .367. 3-pt FG:Odessa 2-7 (Bell 0-2, Williams 2-3, Drummer 0-2), South Plains College 6-18 (Roberts 3-6, Carter 0-3, Turner 0-4, Myatt 3-5). Rebounds: Odessa 49 (Adesulu 16), South Plains College 43 (TEAM 12). Fouls Odessa 21, South Plains College 25. Fouled out: Lockhart Myatt Hearn Mitchell . Technical: none. Assists: Odessa 8 (Brown 3), South Plains College 15 (Mitchell 5). Steals: Odessa 5 (Drummer 2), South Plains College 9 (Roberts 3, Myatt 3). Blocked shots: Odessa 8 (Adesulu 6), South Plains College 1 (Myatt 1). Turnovers: Odessa 17, South Plains College 17. Attendance: 0.