Ten days after their last contest, the Temple College Leopards women's basketball team looked to end a four-game conference losing streak on Saturday afternoon as they took on No. 8 McLennan Community College at The Highlands in Waco.
The Leopards never trailed in the game, got out to a big start, held the Highlanders to a season-low in points, and stunned MCC, 61-50.
Temple (12-8 overall, 2-4 NTJCAC) scored the first basket of the afternoon on Chyna Nixon's drive into the paint and short-range jumper 2:55 into the contest.
Danai Lewis picked up McLennan's first point at the free-throw line with 6:43 to go in the opening quarter.
The Leopards held the Highlanders without a point for the next 7:02 and mounted a 14-0 run to close the quarter. Korina Garcia and Antronea Jackson each hit a pair of three-pointers, and Gabby Edo hit a basket in the paint to account for the points in the run as the Leopards led at the end of the first quarter, 16-1.
The run grew to be the difference in the game, as the Leopards held to Highlanders between nine and 15 points throughout the second quarter, as TC led at the half, 28-17.
McLennan (16-3 overall, 4-2 NTJCAC) fell behind by 15 early in the third period before they cut the deficit to eight points, 38-30, with 2:21 to go in the third quarter.
Temple continued to play solid defense, as they led at the end of the third quarter, 40-32.
The Leopards rebuilt a 15-point lead with 6:06 to play, but the Highlanders did not go away. MCC whittled the margin to ten points, 53-43, before a TC run pushed the lead to 14 with 37 seconds to go.
Temple was 4-of-9 from the free-throw line, but drilled nine three-pointers in the win.
Nixon led the Leopards with 18 points, Jackson added 16, and Garcia chipped 15 for the Leopards.
MCC hit just 11 field goals in the game, which included four three-pointers. The Highlanders were 18-of-27 from the charity stripe.
Tajenae Gooden led the Highlanders with 11 points.
The Leopards host Southwestern Christian College on Monday at 5pm at Kirby Johnson Court.