The Odessa College women’s basketball team didn’t have any trouble putting away Clarendon College in an 86-46 win Thursday in WJCAC action at the OC Sports Center.
With the victory, the No. 16-ranked Lady Wranglers moved to 18-3 overall and 4-1 in conference play, moving into the sole second place spot in the WJCAC standings behind New Mexico Junior College.
Clarendon College fell to 17-4, 3-2.
Odessa College’s lone loss in conference play came last week against New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs, N.M.
“I felt like against New Mexico Junior College, we didn’t play our best basketball and then the other day against Western Texas College we came back to form and then tonight, we were back to what we were capable of doing and I thought they did a good job of being disciplined and being who we need to be,” said Odessa College head coach Franqua Bedell.
The Lady Wranglers were led in scoring by Ivana Krajina’s 15 points as she went 7-12 from the floor and 1-4 on 3-pointers.
Chelsy Bautista finished with 12 points, going 6-7 on field goals while Tia Shelling had 11 after going 5-13 on inside shots and 1-3 on 3-pointers.
As a team, Odessa College went 37-71 on the floor and 5-24 on 3-pointers while going 7-11 on free throws.
All but two players scored a basket for the Lady Wranglers.
Clarendon College was led in scoring by Ta’Leeyah Glynn’s 15 points as she went 4-13 on the floor and 1-5 on 3-pointers and 6-6 from the line.
Paula Carvalho had seven points for the Lady Bulldogs, going 3-5 on inside shots, 1-1 and 3-pointers.
Clarendon College went 16-50 on field goals and 4-14 on 3-pointers while going 10-16 on free throws.
The Lady Wranglers couldn’t have asked for a better start, going on a 16-1 run to begin the game.
However, the Lady Bulldogs managed to use a 7-2 run to make it a ten-point deficit with 2:40 left in the first quarter.
A basket by Alexia Rogers cut into the Lady Wranglers’ lead at 18-10 soon after.
Odessa College responded with a 4-3 run as both teams continued to trade baskets for the later part of the quarter.
Consecutive free throws by Destinee Barnes gave Odessa College a 24-13 lead with 24 seconds remaining.
Odessa College’s lead was 24-16 at the end of the first quarter.
A basket by Krajina gave the Lady Wranglers a 33-21 lead with 6:44 left in the second quarter.
Sanogo’s inside jumper made it 37-23 with 5:14 on the clock.
Odessa College continued to cruise along as the Lady Wranglers used an 8-4 run to extend their lead to 45-27.
Odessa College took a 50-27 lead at halftime.
The Lady Wranglers’ dominance continued in the third quarter as they went on a 14-2 run to remain firmly in control.
A 3-pointer by Kimora Daly extended the Lady Wranglers’ lead to 67-32 with 1:57 left in the third.
Pa’Shawna Wheeler scored a wide-open 3-pointer to make it 76-36 at the end of the quarter as Odessa College didn’t show any signs up letting up.
Shots continued to fall for the Lady Wranglers throughout the fourth quarter as back-to-back layups helped Odessa College to a forty-point lead before free throws by Mariam Sanogo made it 83-41 with 5:16 left.
“It was a huge win,” Bedell said. “You don’t get a conference championship if you don’t win games and this keeps the conference title within reach. This was huge. I’m proud of our girls and how they’re playing. They kept their foot on the gas.”
Odessa College will next face Howard College at 5:45 p.m. Monday in Big Spring.
Clarendon College will next be on the road when the Lady Bulldogs face Midland College at 5:45 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Chaparral Center.
