Parada's 18 points not enough as Lady Texans fall to Phoenix

Parada, a 5-6 sophomore from Clint, Texas, made 6-of-13 attempts from the field and was 5-of-7 from the free throw line in only her third game of the season. She also pulled down six rebounds and had five steals.

Down by as many as 10 points early in the first half, Parada completed a 10-2 scoring run when she drove hard into the paint to convert a field goal and was also sent to the line by a foul on a Phoenix defender. Parada completed the three-point play to get South Plains to within two points, 19-17.

The Lady Texans (3-12) briefly took a two point lead after Lakeeyscia Griffin converted a couple of free throws with 6 minutes, 18 seconds to go in the first half. Phoenix answered by outscoring SPC 8-1 to take a five point lead, 31-26, with just over two minutes to go before halftime.

Trailing 33-28, Parada converted a field goal and sophomore Ashley Roberts hit a deep 3 to tie the game with 14 seconds left to help send the Lady Texans to the locker room with the score tied up at 33 points apiece.

Phoenix College began the second half of play by scoring the first eight points to once again take a commanding lead.

Similar to the first half the Lady Texans made another charge to get back into the game when, down 51-42 with under 10 minutes remaining, Parada began a 9-0 Lady Texan scoring run with a made basket. Two points in the paint by Roberts was followed up with a deep 3 byKayla Turner followed by a second chance basket by Parada to tie the game.

That was as close as South Plains would get to the lead. Down two points with 2:42 to go in the contest, Phoenix scored six consecutive points while holding the Lady Texans scoreless for more than two minutes. By then, a made 3-point basket by Turner was too late as Phoenix made 3-of-4 free throws down the stretch to win the game by eight, 66-58.

The Lady Texans will head to Tucson, Ariz. where they will play their final non-conference game against Pima Community College (10-5) at 5 p.m. CST Monday, January 9.

South Plains College (3-12)
Raely Parada 6-13 5-7 18, Avril Matthews 0-1 0-0 0, Ashley Roberts 4-13 4-4 13, Jazzmin Hill 1-3 0-0 2, Lakeeyscia Griffin 1-3 2-2 4, Kayla Turner 4-12 0-0 11, Shea Myatt 0-2 0-0 0,Sydney Hearn 1-7 2-2 4, Stephanie Moore 2-4 2-2 6. Totals 19-58 15-17 58

Phoenix (6-11)
Lizete Avila 0-1 0-0 0, Gabby Johnson 4-8 0-0 8, Alyssa Gruber 0-3 0-0 0, Shenan Six 0-1 0-0 0, Ashley Whelchel 2-4 0-0 5, Brianna Madrid 1-1 0-0 2, Chelsea Brumby 3-7 7-8 14, Angelina Ramirez 0-1 0-0 0, Elise Shelton 10-17 2-4 22, Shelbie Hess 5-13 5-8 15. Totals 25-56 14-20 66

FG%: South Plains College .328, Phoenix .446. 3-pt FG:South Plains College 5-16 (Parada 1-3, Matthews 0-1, Roberts 1-5, Turner 3-6, Myatt 0-1), Phoenix 2-9 (Six 0-1, Whelchel 1-2, Brumby 1-5, Hess 0-1). Rebounds: South Plains College 36 (Moore 9), Phoenix 37 (Hess 10). Fouls South Plains College 15, Phoenix 15. Fouled out: none. Technical: none. Assists: South Plains College 10 (Matthews 4), Phoenix 14 (Brumby 3, Hess 3). Steals: South Plains College 11 (Parada 5), Phoenix 15 (Johnson 5). Blocked shots: South Plains College 2 (Hill 1, Moore 1), Phoenix 6 (Shelton 5). Turnovers: South Plains College 24, Phoenix 22.