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Blinn College

Scoreboard

Ja'Nya Thomas 2024-25
37
Ranger College RANGER C
55
Winner Blinn College BLINN CO
Ranger College RANGER C
37
Final
55
Blinn College BLINN CO
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Ranger College RANGER C 12 10 4 11 37
Blinn College BLINN CO 16 12 14 13 55

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

No. 25 Blinn's lockdown defense shines in Blinn Classic win over Ranger

The Buccaneers allowed 50 or fewer points for the fifth time this season

The 25th-ranked Blinn College women's basketball team rode a strong defensive effort to a 55-37 victory over Ranger College on day one of the Blinn Classic on Friday at the Kruse Center in Brenham, Texas.

The win pushed the Buccaneers to 8-2 overall this season.

Ten games into its campaign, Blinn is still looking for some offensive rhythm while its defense thrives, two trends that continued against the Rangers.

The Bucs allowed no more than 12 points in each of the four periods played Friday, including an impressive four points surrendered in the third quarter. The Bucs are yielding just 39.1 points per contest, and it's that type of defense that Blinn head coach Jeff Jenkins said is imperative as his team searches for offensive consistency.

"If we play hard, defend, and rebound, I'm happy with my team and we did that tonight," Jenkins said. "We want to make layups and open shots, but the shots just aren't falling for us right now. Until they do, we have to continue to put our best defensive foot forward because that's what is keeping us in games."

Blinn started strong with a 16-12 advantage at the end of the first quarter, but as things slowed for the Bucs on the offensive side of the court, their defense turned up the heat to keep Ranger at bay.

Blinn's biggest lead of the first half came early in the second quarter when sophomore forward Tocarra Johnson sandwiched a free throw and a mid-range jump shot around sophomore guard Ja'Nya Thomas' steal and layup to make it 21-12. 

The Rangers responded with a 10-7 move to send the game into halftime with the Bucs ahead just 28-22.

Ja'Nya Thomas 2024-25
(Pictured: Blinn sophomore guard Ja'Nya Thomas shoots a 3-pointer during a game against Ranger College on Dec. 6, 2024)

Blinn put the game away almost immediately after the intermission.

Johnson opened the scoring in the third period with a free throw and sophomore forward DJ Kincade followed with a putback. After a Rangers bucket, the Bucs took their first double-digit lead of the game at 34-24 on a 3-pointer from sophomore guard Jonesha Neal that ignited a 9-0 run. 

Sophomore guard Wynter Jones capped the push on a layup to make it a 40-24 ballgame. Johnson buried a pair of free throws at the end of the third to give Blinn a 42-26 cushion heading into the fourth quarter.

"We're going to start hitting more shots," Johnson said. "We're confident that things are going to start falling into place for us and that our defense and offense are going to come together. It's early in the season and these things take time, so until that happens, we feel good about our defense and are comfortable with defense being our key to victory right now."

Johnson led Blinn with 13 points, followed by 10 for Thomas.

The Bucs finish the Classic with a matchup against Western Texas College at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Kruse Center.

Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 49 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
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