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Blinn College

Scoreboard

Alissa Bryant 2026-27
52
McLennan Community College MCLENNAN
67
Winner Blinn College BLINN CO
McLennan Community College MCLENNAN
52
Final
67
Blinn College BLINN CO
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
McLennan Community College MCLENNAN 14 11 16 11 52
Blinn College BLINN CO 15 15 15 22 67

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Blinn knocks off No. 13 McLennan in season opener

Buccaneers deliver statement win, snapping five-game losing streak against Highlassies

The Blinn College women's basketball team couldn't have scripted a much better start to the 2026-27 season.

The Buccaneers opened their campaign Tuesday night by taking down No. 13 McLennan Community College 67-52 at the Kruse Center in Brenham, Texas, delivering an early-season upset and snapping a five-game losing streak against the Highlassies.

The victory marked Blinn's first over McLennan since Nov. 1, 2023, and provided an impressive opening statement for a Bucs squad looking to make noise in Region 14.

"I'm just so proud of our players, and especially proud of their defensive effort," Blinn head coach Jeff Jenkins said. "I was also proud that they made free throws down the stretch. They made the right decisions in big moments and they made shots. It's always nice to see players make plays."

The Bucs led 15-14 after the first quarter and gradually built their advantage, taking a 30-25 lead into halftime. Blinn maintained control through the third quarter, carrying a 45-41 cushion into the final period.

McLennan made its push in the fourth, erasing the deficit and tying the game at 47-47 with 7:53 remaining. The Bucs responded with a jumper from sophomore guard Chloe Williams before freshman guard CeMaria Kelly buried a 3-pointer to put Blinn back in front by five.

The Bucs continued to execute offensively as the clock wound down. Freshman guard Ashanti Smith knocked down a 3 with just over three minutes remaining to extend the advantage to 56-50, and Blinn pulled away from there. Smith added a mid-range jumper, while the Bucs converted their opportunities at the free-throw line in the closing seconds to seal the 15-point victory.

"We took great shots, and we made them," Jenkins said. "We didn't turn it over a whole lot in the fourth quarter, so I thought we handled the pressure well."

Blinn showcased its offensive depth with four players reaching double figures. Freshman guard Alissa Bryant led the Bucs with 12 points, while Williams, sophomore forward Kamaria "Juice" Ford, and freshman guard Sari Taylor each contributed 10. Sophomore forward Amyah Weathersby added eight points.

Bryant said the team's unselfishness and willingness to share the basketball were instrumental in its offensive success.

"No one on our team plays selfishly. We all like to share the ball," Bryant said. "We know each other's games, and we're working on getting to know each other better. We know how to share the ball, we're looking for each other, and we know how to find the open spot so the ball moves easily and everybody can get some paint touches."

Williams credited the team's preparation and work in practice for its ability to execute when McLennan made its fourth-quarter run.

"We have a lot of depth. We have a lot of guards, and we have a lot of bigs," Williams said. "We work on our plays a lot. We work on defense. We work on everything, so practice is showing in the games."

The victory was particularly rewarding for Jenkins after a challenging preseason that included several difficult scrimmages. The coach said he and his staff believed in the team's potential but were waiting to see that confidence translate into results.

"We have really good freshmen, and you're scared they're going to play like freshmen," Jenkins said. "Tonight, they didn't play like freshmen. They played well."

Jenkins also emphasized the importance of Blinn's depth, explaining he believes the Bucs can substitute entire groups of players without sacrificing much on the floor. He intentionally brought Williams and Kelly off the bench to provide additional scoring and speed to the second unit.

While Jenkins was pleased with the defensive effort, he identified transition defense as an area the Bucs will continue to address through practice and film study.

"The best way right now for us to improve is to be in the film room and back in the gym working," Jenkins explained. "We'll watch the video of this game, learn from it, and keep getting better."

Blinn will look to build on its season-opening upset Thursday when it welcomes Hill College to the Kruse Center for a 5:30 p.m. matchup.

Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 53 national championships since 1987.
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