It was a rough start to conference play for the McLennan Highlassies as they fell to the Cisco Lady Wranglers on the road.
Cisco opened the game on a 4-0 run by Jayeida Neal. McLennan’s KeeKee Nowlin put the Highlassies on the board and the squad trimmed the Lady Wrangler lead to one, 8-7 with 3:39 to play in the first quarter. Both teams had a slow offensive start. The Lady Wranglers picked up the pace in the final minutes of the quarter and led 22-10 going to the second period. Cisco extended the lead to 19, 33-14, with 3:43 to play in the second. McLennan didn’t give up. The Highlassies rallied down the stretch to cut the lead to 13 at the break, 36-23.
McLennan emerged from the locker room with a renewed focus. The Highlassies opened the third on a 6-1 run to trim the Cisco lead to eight but it would be all Lady Wranglers from that point on.
Sophomore KeeKee Nowlin led McLennan with 16 points. Harmony Pettis and Elizabeth Critton scored seven each.
The Highlassies return to their home court Wednesday, hosting Ranger at 5:30 p.m.
McLennan: Jada McHenry 1 0-0 2; Ny’Asia Goldman 1 0-0 3; Kenidi White 0 2-2 2; Gabby Cleveland 0 1-2 1; Harmony Pettis 3 0-1 7; KeeKee Nowlin 6 4-7 16; Raveen Blue 0 0-0 0; Elizabeth Critton 2 3-3 7; Anastacia Mickens 1 1-4 3; Arial Elzie 0 0-0 0; Desirae Devine 1 0-0 2; Totals: 15 11-19 43.
Cisco: Keviona Barber 1 0-0 2; Roberta Farris 0 0-0 0; Rebecca Farmer 5 1-2 15; Jayeida Neal 3 2-5 9; Kya Tarver 0 0-0 0; Jakieya Morgan 9 0-0 20; Zoë Holmes 8 2-6 18; Chelsea Bolton 0 0-0 0; Traeli Calhoun 3 0-0 6; Jayla Jackson 0 0-0 0; Totals: 29 5-13 70.
3-pointers: McLennan 2 (Goldman 1, Pettis 1); Cisco 7 (Farmer 4, Morgan 2, Neal 1); Total fouls: McLennan 15, Cisco 22; Fouled out: Cisco (Morgan); Halftime score: Cisco 36, McLennan 23; Record: McLennan 9-5 (0-1).
