Posted: Feb 24, 2012
BIG SPRING, Texas - The South Plains College Lady Texan basketball team failed to capitalize on the opportunity to clinch a spot in next month's Region 5 tournament as they lost 57-50 to Howard College Monday night at the Dorothy Garrett Coliseum. The loss drops SPC to 8-19 overall and 5-6 in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference (WJCAC) and they remain 11/2 games ahead of Howard and Monday's opponent, Western Texas, entering the final week of the season.
South Plains dug themselves a 15-point hole to open the first half. Sydney Hearn gave the Lady Texan their first field goal after nearly 5-minutes had ticked off the clock. Another seven minutes passed before Raely Parada's field goal made the score 17-4.
Trailing 23-7, Ashley Roberts nailed two 3-pointers on her way to scoring all eight of her first half points and Moneeka Carter chipped in with four during a 12-2 Lady Texan scoring run that brought SPC to within six points as the first half wound down.
At halftime the Lady Texans trailed 29-21.
The Lady Texans kept the game close in the second half, getting to within three points on several occasions and as close as two points at the 3:55 and 3:08 marks.
Parada again made it a one possession game when she made a goal with only 34 seconds remaining to cut the Lady Hawk advantage to 53-50.
Howard made 4-of-4 free throws down the stretch to hand the Lady Texans a seven point loss.
Roberts scored a team high 16 points on 5-of-9 from the field and Stephanie Moore added 15 to lead SPC.
The Lady Texans will again look to secure their spot in the post-season when they host Western Texas College Monday, February 27 at the Texan Dome in a game sponsored by Holiday Inn Express and Suites of Levelland. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. and a Kindle Fire donated by Holiday Inn Express will be given away to a lucky fan at halftime of the game.
Monday's regular season finale will mark the farewell for four Lady Texan sophomores asAshley Roberts, Avril Matthews, Raely Parada, and Stephanie Moore will each play in the Texan Dome one last time as a Lady Texan.
Live video of Monday's action can be found at www.spctexans.com. KLVT 1230 AM will carry audio that can also be accessed at www.klvtradio.com.
South Plains College (8-19, 5-6)
Raely Parada 3-5 1-2 8, Avril Matthews 0-0 1-2 1, Ashley Roberts 5-9 2-2 16, Moneeka Carter 3-6 0-0 6, Lakeeyscia Griffin 0-0 0-0 0, Shea Myatt 0-6 0-0 0, Sydney Hearn 2-4 0-0 4, Stephanie Moore 5-13 5-6 15. Totals 18-43 9-12 50
Howard (17-11, 3-7)
Porsche Young 2-7 0-1 4, Kali Jerrel 7-12 4-4 19, Tori Tucker 6-9 0-0 12, Zeslie Johnson 4-15 0-0 8, Kelli Merrick 1-1 2-2 4, Marion Lemonnier 0-1 2-2 2, Carolyn Taylor 3-7 0-0 6, Brushea Daniels 1-2 0-1 2, Ja'Keyma Williams 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 24-56 8-10 57
SCORE BY PERIODS 1st 2nd TOTAL
South Plains College 21 29 50
Howard 29 28 57
FG%: South Plains College .419, Howard .429. 3-pt FG:South Plains College 5-15 (Parada 1-2, Roberts 4-6, Carter 0-2, Myatt 0-4, Hearn 0-1), Howard 1-8 (Young 0-1, Jerrel 1-4, Tucker 0-1, Lemonnier 0-1, Taylor 0-1). Rebounds: South Plains College 30 (TEAM 7), Howard 30 (Johnson 8). Fouls South Plains College 14, Howard 10. Fouled out: none. Technical: none. Assists: South Plains College 12 (Myatt 4), Howard 10 (Jerrel 4). Steals: South Plains College 10 (Matthews 4), Howard 11 (Young 4). Blocked shots: South Plains College 1 (Myatt 1), Howard 1 (Williams 1). Turnovers: South Plains College 21, Howard 16.