Women’s Basketball – TC vs. McLennan
The Temple Daily Telegram reports that after winning their two games this weekend at
the Panola Classic in Carthage, the Lady Leopards are beginning their season of
conference play at 6 p.m. at Highlands. TC’s Lady Leopards have improved to 7-5 with
the three-game winning streak; MCC’s Highlassies, also winners of three straight, stand
at 7-3.. The second of those two victories for the Lady Leopards was a 63-50 decision on
Saturday against Angelina College – a team that already had wins over top-ranked
Midland College and No. 2 Utah Valley to its credit. “Getting two wins on the road was
really a boost for us,” coach Kim Sebek said. “I wasn’t really surprised that we beat
Angelina, though, because we’re capable of playing good basketball. We’ve proven we
can win on the road.” The Lady Leopards will try to further prove that against MCC,
which is steadily building confidence under second-year coach Ricky Rhodes. The
Highlassies, who capped their non-conference slate with a 66-53 win over Blinn on
Saturday in Waco, are paced by three sophomores: forwards Julie Wiese and Tammy
White and post Vershonda Williams. The 5-10 Wiese averaged 14 points per game last
season to rank sixth in the NTJCAC, and the 6-foot Williams averaged 12-3 points and 8
rebounds for and MCC team that went 14-17. The Lady Leopards present a balanced
scoring attack and a constantly improving defense. Freshman forward Kaci Fulton leads
TC in scoring (10.8 points per game) and rebounding (7.3). Fulton gets assistance from
guard Kelly Brown (10.2 ppg) and posts Tammarra Ringer (9.7) and Daja Adams (7.5),
an emerging defensive force. “MCC has good 3-point shooters and likes to penetrate and
kick it out,” Sebek said. “But Daja’s inside presence is incredible, the way she blocks
and alters shots. We’ll try a number of things defensively.” The Lady Leopards will host
to Ranger on Saturday at 4 p.m. and won’t play another NTJCAC game until Jan. 10.