The Temple College women's basketball team took on the Hill College Rebels on Wednesday in Hillsboro, looking to climb back into the playoff chase in the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference.

It was a back-and-forth battle between the teams early. However, Hill hit a three-pointer with six seconds to go in the third quarter and never relinquished the lead as the Rebels outlasted TC, 63-56.

Ava Batty, Journee Chambers, and Khylee Perry combined on an 8-2 to put Hill up early.

Temple put together a 12-4 run to end the first quarter, led by Gabby Edo, Ke'Myreul Wheaton, and Antronea Jackson, as the Leopards led going into the second quarter, 14-12.

The teams traded the lead four times early in the period, with neither team having led by more than four points. A three-pointer by Emori Lasalle pulled TC to within a period with 23 seconds left in the first half. Hill hit a late free throw to lead by two at halftime, 30-28.

Again, the teams had a tug-of-war with the lead in the third period with it handed back-and-forth seven times.

Wheaton barreled through the lane for a layup in the paint with 1:12 left in the quarter, which marked the start of a field goal drought for Temple that lasted 4:25.

Hill ended the quarter on a three-pointer by Batty to take a 45-43 lead into the final stanza.

The Rebels stretched the lead to six points early in the fourth quarter, but the Leopards stayed in lockstep never letting the deficit stretch beyond seven. Ma'Leah Duvall's three-pointer with 3:02 remaining made the score 55-54.

 The Rebels put the game away with a 7-2 finish.

Temple hit five three-pointers and converted 7-of-11 free-throws.

Lasalle scored 14 points and Wheaton added 13 for the Leopards.

Batty led all scorers with 25 points for the Rebels and Kiah Goynes added 11 for Hill. The Rebels went 16-of-31 from the charity stripe and hit seven three-pointers.

How the standings shake out after Wednesday

Temple faces a must-win situation on Saturday as they will face the Weatherford College Coyotes at 2 pm at Kirby Johnson Court.

Grayson and Collin continue to battle for the top spot in the conference, both sitting at 10-1.

McLennan sits alone in third at 8-3, two full games ahead of Hill, who took possession of the fourth and final playoff spot. The Leopards and Coyotes sit at 5-7 with four games to play and a game-and-a-half behind the Rebels. Ranger is lurking in seventh place at 4-8.

NTJCAC women's basketball standings (as of Feb. 19)

Grayson 10-1 (next game: Sat. at MCC)

Collin 10-1 (next game: Sat. vs. Hill)

MCC 8-3 (next game: Sat. vs. Grayson)

Hill 6-5 (next game: Sat. at Collin)

Temple 5-7 (next game: Sat. vs. Weatherford)

Weatherford 5-7 (next game: Sat. at Temple)

Ranger 4-8 (next game: Sat. at Southwestern)

Southwestern Christian 3-9 (next game: Sat. vs. Ranger)

Cisco 1-11 (next game: Wed. Feb. 25 vs. Hill)