The Temple College women's basketball season faced a critical North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference game on Saturday at Kirby Johnson Court against Weatherford College with serious playoff implications in the balance for both teams who were deadlocked at 5-7 in fifth place.

The Coyotes opened a comfortable lead from the second quarter on and put the Leopards in a hole they could climb out of as Weatherford defeated Temple, 71-59.

Temple started the game with a 5-0 lead. However, the Coyotes responded with a 21-11 stretch to take a 21-16 lead into the second period.

Weatherford held a two-possession lead for much of the second quarter, as the Coyotes led by eight points at the half, 38-30.

The Leopards continued to stay close in the third quarter, and trailed by only six points, 53-47, heading into the final period.

The Coyotes used a fourth quarter opening 18-4 run to open a 20-point lead, 71-51, with 3:15 to play.

Temple closed the game with an 8-0 run but fell short by 12 points.

The Leopards converted 9-of-15 free throws and hit a quartet of three-pointers. Emori Lasalle scored 16 points and Ke'Myreul Wheaton added 11 to lead Temple.

Weatherford hit six three-pointers and made 13-of-21 free throws.

Neso Anisobi led all scorers with 22 points. Lauren Ebara added 14 points, and Anja Djukic added 13 points.

With three games remaining, the Leopards are in sixth place, a game behind Weatherford for fifth place and two games behind Hill for the final playoff spot. The Leopards must win their next three games against Southwestern Christian, MCC, and Cisco and get help to keep their hopes alive.

The Leopards travel to Terrell to take on SWCC on Wednesday.