It took overtime for the #11 New Mexico Lady Thunderbirds to defeat the upset minded Seward Lady Saints 84-81 Friday night at the Castor Activity Center in Hobbs. Avery Marchino scored 33 points and pulled down seven rebounds in the loss.
The Lady Saints jumped out to a lead of 13-6 and NMJC lead 17-16 after one. Seward led 31-29 early in the second quarter but the Lady T-Birds outscored SCCC 22-15 in th3e second quarter. Seward outscored NMJC 20-17 in the third quarter and trailed 56-51 at the end of three. Seward continued their climb in the fourth quarter taking a 60-58 lead as RaMya Kennedy beat the shot clock on an inbounds play burying a left wing three to make it 60-58 and SCCC led 65-60 with five minutes to play. NMJC ralled back to lead 66-65 with 3:50 to play. Grace Posch hit a clutch three pointer to give Seward a 72-70 lead with a minute to play. Seward led 75-73 with 18 seconds left and then got a stop. Seward made 1 of 2 at the foul line and led 76-73 with 6.6 second left. New Mexico’s Rekiah Bowen banked in a three to tie the game at 76-76 with two seconds left. The game went to overtime. Avery Marchino’s right wing three in front of Seward’s bench gave the Lady Saints an 81-78 lead in overtime with 1:55 to play. But Seward did not score again.
Seward’s misses at the foul line were costly as Seward was 17-29 from the line. They were 14-31 from three and shot 39 percent from the field. Seward only committed eight turnovers and all of those came in the first half. The Lady T-Birds out-rebounded SCCC 47-35. NMJC shot 47 percent from the field.
Avery Marchino was Epic Touch Player of the Game with 33 points and seven rebounds. Kimora Fagan and Grace Posch scored 14 a piece. Trinitee Holmes had eight points and eight rebounds.
NMJC is 4-1 and Seward is 4-1. Seward plays Dallas College Cedar Valley Saturday at 4pm in Hobbs on 1270 and 92.3.
