By Tony Adams, Temple College
On Nov. 21, the Western Texas College Westerners women's basketball team held Temple College to their lowest point total of the season in a 48-44 win.
The season-low was 22 points beneath their prior 66-point output against Kilgore College on Nov. 6.
Since that game, the Leopards had averaged 80 points per contest and hosted the Westerners to start to 2025 portion of the season Thursday afternoon at Kirby Johnson Court.
Jaylice Rosario, who was held scoreless in the first game against WTC, scored 17 points through three quarters and spearheaded the Leopards defensive effort at TC defeated Western Texas College, 71-45.
The teams traded early leads through the opening quarter, with Mia Riley having scored eight of her team-leading ten points in the first period. Five Leopards scored in the first ten minutes to give TC a 13-12 advantage going into the second period.
Temple's persistent defense led to several turnovers and trips to the charity stripe in the second quarter. The Leopards went 8-of-14 in period, as they outscored Western (5-8) in the quarter, 20-12, and led by nine points at the break, 33-24.
The Leopards made several adjustments at halftime and put up a 20-1 streak in the third quarter to open their biggest lead, 28 points, as Temple grabbed a 53-25 advantage with 3:28 to play in the quarter. TC led at the end of three periods, 55-31.
TC (9-4) head coach Amber Taylor was able to rest Rosario and several other players to give her bench valuable playing time in preparation for the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference (NTJCAC) schedule coming up next week.
The Leopards were 13-of-21 from the free-throw line, which out converted WTC's 4-of-9 mark.
Rosario scored 11 of her game-high 17 points in the third quarter, as she outscored WTC by four points in the frame.
Imani McCray and Biva Byrd each had 11 points, and Shay Morgan and Mychie White both had ten.
Riley led the Westerners with ten points, all in the first half. Kay Elder scored five points, and four other WTC players had four points.
The Leopards will wrap up non-conference play this Saturday in Brenham against the Blinn Buccaneers. On Nov. 26, Blinn nipped the Leopards at Kirby Johnson Court, 78-76.