Lady Texans Hold Off Odessa Late to Open Second Half of Conference Play
The #7 South Plains College Lady Texans opened the back half of WJCAC play with a hard-fought home victory, edging Odessa College 67–64 in a thrilling, down-to-the-wire battle Monday night at the Texan Dome.
LEVELLAND, TX - South Plains College and Odessa College traded blows from the opening tip, with neither team able to seize control for long in a game that featured five ties and 10 lead changes. The Lady Texans built momentum in the third quarter, stretching their lead to as many as 15 points with five minutes remaining, but the Wranglers responded with a strong late push to keep the contest tight until the final seconds.
Isabel Joao led the way for SPC with 21 points, eight rebounds, and three steals, providing steady offense and energy on both ends of the floor. Dilangue Cruz added 12 points and three steals, while Daniela Gongo chipped in 11 points and three rebounds as the Lady Texans showcased balanced scoring throughout the lineup.
The game ultimately came down to defense. With seconds remaining and Odessa looking to tie the game with a three-pointer, Signe Nordvik got her hand on the shot, blocking the attempt and sealing the victory for South Plains College.
SPC finished the night shooting 41 percent from the field and 30 percent from three-point range, while struggling at the free-throw line, converting 13-of-26 attempts (50 percent). Rebounding and turnovers were evenly matched, with SPC holding a narrow 30–27 edge on the glass and forcing 22 Odessa turnovers, which the Lady Texans turned into 24 points.
With the win, South Plains College sits fourth in the WJCAC standings, trailing New Mexico Junior College, Howard College, and Clarendon College as conference play continues.
The Lady Texans will remain at home and host Midland College on Monday, February 9th, with tipoff scheduled for 5:45 p.m. at the Texan Dome.
