Lady Texans earn key victory Monday night at Odessa

Roberts - held to only 13 points in her previous three outings - scored early and often. She helped her team to a five point lead on two occasions in the first half, the first after a 3-point bucket and then a free throw and then a two-point bucket off a J'Tierra Brown turnover to make it 19-14. 

Odessa responded with a 9-0 run that would help the Lady Wranglers to a four point lead at halftime, 27-23. Roberts finished with 15 of South Plains' 23 first half points.

Roberts cut the Lady Texans deficit to one when she opened the second half with another 3-point goal. Moments later Stephanie Moore again gave the Lady Texans the lead. 

After Odessa's Chanell Lockhart hit a 3 to put the Lady Wranglers back up by a point, Roberts took over scoring six points during an 11-2 Lady Texan scoring run capped by another 3 by Roberts setup by an Avril Matthews steal, giving SPC a 40-32 lead with 12:54 remaining.

The Lady Wranglers fought back, bringing the Lady Texans to within two points on three occasions before finally tying the game at 49 apiece with just under 3-minutes to go in the contest. 

Shea Myatt picked up and converted a missed shot by Sydney Hearn and then Hearn, Matthews, and Roberts combined to go 5-of-8 at the free throw line to stretch the Lady Texan lead to seven points with less than a minute on the clock. 

Odessa worked to make the game interesting with buckets by Brown and Lauren Berry, making it a one possession ballgame. With only 18-seconds to go, Roberts made it a four point SPC lead and then iced the game when she was fouled after a missed Lady Wrangler field goal attempt, making both free throws. 

With only four games remaining the Lady Texans will look to at least hold on to their one game lead over Western Texas and their 1 ½ game lead on Howard when they host Frank Phillips College Thursday, February 16 on Think Pink Night, sponsored by Covenant Hospital of Levelland. The Lady Texans defeated the Lady Plainsmen (5-18, 0-8) 71-54 January 23 in Borger. 

In an effort to raise money for breast cancer awareness, the South Plains College athletic department is raffling off an Apple iPad2. Those wishing to purchase raffle tickets can do so by contacting the athletic department at 716-2221. Proceeds will be donated to Covenant Hospital and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).

South Plains College (7-17, 4-4)
Raely Parada 0-6 0-0 0, Avril Matthews 0-2 1-4 1, Ashley Roberts 10-16 9-14 33, Moneeka Carter 0-2 0-0 0, Shea Myatt 3-9 0-0 6, Tyeisha Mitchell 0-0 0-0 0, Sydney Hearn 4-9 3-4 11, Stephanie Moore 4-9 0-1 8. Totals 21-53 13-23 59

Odessa (17-7, 6-2)
Chanell Lockhart 5-8 0-1 12, Kristyn Wilson 4-6 3-3 11, Meagan Bell 1-5 0-0 3, Tina Bozicek 1-3 0-0 2, J'Tierra Brown 1-9 0-0 2, Angenay Williams 4-8 2-2 10, Jamie Drummer 4-16 1-1 9, Lauren Berry 2-3 0-0 4, Caroline Adesulu 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 22-61 6-7 53
SCORE BY PERIODS 1st 2nd TOTAL
South Plains College 23 36 59
Odessa 27 26 53

FG%: South Plains College .396, Odessa .355. 3-pt FG:South Plains College 4-7 (Roberts 4-5, Carter 0-1, Myatt 0-1), Odessa 3-19 (Lockhart 2-3, Bell 1-3, Bozicek 0-2, Brown 0-4, Williams 0-2, Drummer 0-5). Rebounds: South Plains College 36 (Moore 7), Odessa 40 (Williams 8). Fouls South Plains College 8, Odessa 16. Fouled out: Lockhart . Technical: Odessa Coach. Assists: South Plains College 12 (Matthews 7), Odessa 7 (Brown 3). Steals: South Plains College 5 (Matthews 3), Odessa 10 (Drummer 3, Berry 3). Blocked shots: South Plains College 0, Odessa 4 (Adesulu 3). Turnovers: South Plains College 16, Odessa 19