MCC women down Howard, lose to No. 8-rated foe

HOBBS, N.M. – The McCook Community College women opened the New Mexico Junior College Classic with a 60-56 win over Howard College of Texas.

"We didn't shoot it very well tonight but we made plays when we needed to," said MCC Coach Brandon Pritchett. "We got to the free-throw line tonight and converted those opportunities."

MCC shot 35.3 percent from the field, and made just four of 20 shots from the 3-point line (20 percent) but did sink 20 of 23 free throws (87 percent) and outscored Howard from the line 20-9.

MCC took its largest lead of the game – eight points -- at the 7:25 mark of the second quarter when freshman Kamelija Ignatova (Probishtip, North Macedonia) sank a 3-pointer to put MCC up 20-12. However MCC scored just five points the rest of the quarter and held on for a 25-22 halftime lead.

Both teams battled through the third quarter with MCC emerging with a 37-36 lead. Howard scored a bucket on a layup 16 seconds into the fourth quarter to retake the lead which lasted until Sonia Sato (El Paso, Texas) put MCC up for good with a layup at 8:17. A 3-pointer by Alyssa Van Vleet (Oberlin, Kan.) with 5:23 left gave MCC a 46-41 edge.

"I thought we defended the 3-point line well, knowing that took a lot of threes," Pritchett said.

The LadyHawks made just three of 14 3-pointers in the game, shot 36.1 percent from the floor for the game and were nine of 13 from the charity stripe (69.2 percent).

Maite Lara Garcia (Sant Joan Despi, Spain) led MCC with 19 points. Van Vleet chipped in 11 points.

Carla Torrubia Cano (Melilla, Spain) had eight points and eight rebounds. Sato led MCC with 10 rebounds and added seven points.

"Maite had another solid game for us, she just has been competing so hard and brings us energy," Pritchett said. "Our guards rebounded well and Sonia and Carla really stepped up. I challenged them both, especially with not having Valentina Monzo tonight."

MCC out-rebounded Howard 45-31. Howard had 10 turnovers to 17 for MCC.

No. 8 team tops MCC, 80-61

HOBBS, N.M. – The eighth-ranked New Mexico Junior College women collected an 80-61 win Saturday over McCook Community College in the New Mexico Junior College Classic Tournament.

The Thunderbirds scored the first 12 points and never trailed taking a 29-16 first-quarter lead.

"Defensively we came out really flat and not mentally ready," said MCC Coach Brandon Pritchett. "New Mexico JC is good team with size, length and quickness and we just weren't ready from the start."

NMJC out-rebounded MCC 47-23 including 18 on the offensive end, scored 12 second-chance points compared to none for MCC, and held a 10-2 advantage in fast-break points.

"They are a great offensive rebounding and transition team, and we didn't stop those two things from happening today," Pritchett said.

MCC shot 40 percent from the field, made six of 19 from the 3-point line (31.6 percent) had four offensive boards and scored 22 points in the paint.

"We need to be more efficient on offense, take better shots, and finish around the rim," Pritchett said.

Kamelija Ignatova (Probishtip, North Macedonia) came off the bench to lead MCC with 15 points, including a two-for-three showing from the 3-point line. Maite Lara Garcia (Sant Joan Despi, Spain) scored 15 points. Vanessa Jurewicz (Stockholm, Sweden) scored nine points.

"Kamelija played really hard off the bench," Pritchett said. "We have been talking about her playing with a clear head and keeping her game simple."

The No. 8 Thunderbirds improve to 6-1 on the season.

"This was good for us to play a top team in the country on the road," Pritchett said. "We are still down some key pieces, but there was some really good things that came out of today."

MCC goes to 4-3. Next up is a Nebraska Community College Athletics Conference matchup Tuesday at Columbus against Central Community College starting at 5:30p.m. On Friday MCC heads to Council Bluffs, Iowa for the Iowa Western Thanksgiving Classic taking on Mineral Area College Friday at 5 p.m. and then Saturday will play the hosts at 2 p.m.