Dawn, Brainard lead Lady Texans to 71-65 victory over Midland

Dawn finished the game 9-of-26 from the field and also had seven rebounds, six assists, and five steals.

For the first time in six conference games, sophomore Jasmine Brainard was held under 20 points – just barely – as she finished the game with 18 points and six rebounds.

Down 12 late in the first half, Dawn and Brainard led the Lady Texans on a 12-2 run to end the half.

Brainard started it off by picking up a steal and taking it down the court for a fast-break layup. 

Following another Midland turnover, Dawn drove into the paint to convert a layup while also drawing a foul and would go on to complete the three-point play.  Moments later, Dawn brought the Lady Texans back to within four when she hit a 3.

With 44 seconds left in the half, Brainard took a dish from Dawn and, suddenly, South Plains trailed by only two.

Following a Midland field goal, freshman Rafeegah Fataar converted with the clock winding down and the Lady Texans went to the locker room trailing 33-31.

With 7:37 to go in the game, South Plains and Midland were all knotted up for the fifth time in the game, 50-50. 

TaSheena Moore hit a 3 just past the seven-minute mark and the Lady Texans never trailed again. 

Brainard and Dawn answered a pair of Midland free throws with back-to-back 3s and the duo helped South Plains to and eight-point lead, their largest of the game.

The Lady Chaps would rally back to within two in the final minute, but Dawn all but sealed the deal when she converted two free throws that made it a two-possession game with only 31 ticks on the clock. 

Midland missed their next shot and Moore made the final free throws of the game that gave South Plains their six-point margin of victory.

With the win, the Lady Texans improve to 10-9 overall and 4-2 in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference (WJCAC).  Midland falls to 12-9 overall and 2-4 in league play.

The Lady Texans will travel to Odessa Monday for a matchup with the conference leading Lady Wranglers at 5:45 p.m.  South Plains will return to the Texan Dome Feb. 10.

WJCAC scores:  South Plains 71, Midland 65; Frank Phillips 62, Western Texas 52 (OT); New Mexico 71, Howard 50

Midland (12-9, 2-4)
Gabriela Martins 0-3 0-0 0, Tajanay Veiga 1-5 0-0 3, Mattie Turner 0-1 0-0 0, Tyler Hamilton 0-1 0-0 0, Mary Savoy 10-14 3-4 24, Catherine Kruschke 4-11 0-0 8, Nakisha Saintval 0-1 1-2 1, Ellyn Avery 4-13 1-3 12, Rose Sow 0-1 1-2 1, Marielka Garate 0-1 0-0 0, Diamalises Rivera 5-7 6-6 16. Totals 24-58 12-17 65

South Plains (10-9, 4-2)
Alexius Dawn 9-26 3-3 26, Desiree Cruz 0-1 0-0 0, Tasheena Moore 5-16 2-2 14, Briana Brigham 0-3 0-0 0, Ijeoma Nzekwe 0-3 0-0 0, Jasmine Brainard 8-17 1-2 18, Rafeegah Fataar 4-5 3-5 11, Rayvon Christian 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 27-73 9-12 71

FG%: Midland .414, South Plains .370. 3-pt FG:Midland 5-15 (Veiga 1-4, Hamilton 0-1, Savoy 1-2, Avery 3-8), South Plains 8-23 (Dawn 5-15, Moore 2-5, Brigham 0-1, Brainard 1-2). Rebounds: Midland 38 (Kruschke 8), South Plains 36 (Fataar 8). Fouls Midland 13, South Plains 13. Fouled out: none. Technical: none. Assists: Midland 12 (Martins 5), South Plains 14 (Dawn 6). Steals: Midland 5 (Veiga 2), South Plains 11 (Dawn 5). Blocked shots: Midland 5 (Kruschke 2), South Plains 3 (Brainard 2). Turnovers: Midland 14, South Plains 7.