The Temple College women's basketball team hosted the McLennan Community College Highlanders on Wednesday evening in a must-win North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference tilt at Kirby Johnson Court.

The Leopards held Sophomore Night to honor the program's sophomores for their contributions to Temple College. Gabby Edo, Ke'Myreul Wheaton, Chyna Nixon, Antronea Jackson, Kyla Clark, and Emori Lasalle were the sophomores recognized.

On the court, the game close for the first three-and-a-half quarters before MCC pulled away late to claim a 63-53 win to officially eliminate the Leopards from Region V Tournament contention.

Temple (16-13 overall, 6-9 NTJCAC) took the first lead of the game on a bank shot by Jackson. The lead was traded back and fourth several times in the quarter before MCC claimed a 14-12 advantage at the end of the opening ten minutes.

The teams maintained their lead-swapping through the second quarter. TC outscored the Highlanders in the period, 18-17. MCC retained a 31-30 lead at the halftime break.

MCC had the first lead between the teams by more than a possession, having used a 6-1 run to lead 45-39 with 3:08 left in the third quarter.

Temple briefly worked the deficit back to two points late in the period, with MCC taking a 47-44 lead at the end of 30 minutes.

McLennan (23-5 overall, 11-4 NTJCAC) opened a seven-point lead with 3:15 to go, and extended the lead to 12 points with 21.5 left in the game.

The Leopards shot 9-of-19 at the free-throw line and two three-pointers.

Korina Garcia scored 13 points, Nixon added 11, and Lasalle poured in ten for Temple.

MCC hit a trio of three-pointers and converted 8-of-13 at the charity stripe.

Charravia Smith led all scorers with 16 points, Tajenee Gooden added 13, and Charnell Hoof and Lanaijha Johnson both chipping in ten.

The Leopards will travel to Cisco on Wednesday to take on Cisco College.