TJC Apache Ladies open with 66-61 win
HOBBS, N.M. — Felmas Koranga scored 16 points and grabbed 19 rebounds to lead the No. 10 Tyler Junior College Apache Ladies to a 66-61 opening basketball win on Friday in the Thunderbird Classic.
Frankazia Boyd was also in double figures with 17 points, while Nala Hemingway added 10 for the Apache Ladies.
TJC got off to a fast start by leading 21-13 in after the first quarter and 41-28 at halftime. At the end of the third the Apache Ladies were on top 54-38. The Westerners made a run, outscoring TJC 23-12 in the final period, but Tyler held on.
Others scoring for TJC were Niya McGuire (8), Te'Aire Hambrick (7), Gerlyn Smith (4), Saige Roberts (3) and Diamond Atchison (1).
Atchison had four steals and Koranga added three. Hemingway had four assists, while Koranga had three.
McGuire had five boards with Hambrick, Atchison, Hemingway and boyd adding three each.
The Westerners had three players in double figures — Morgan Dial (16), Clarissa Francis (12) and Marta Casas Gimenez (11).
TJC is scheduled to continue play in New Mexico on Saturday (noon vs. Howard College) and Sunday (3 p.m. vs. host New Mexico JC).
Western Texas plays Phoenix College at 3 p.m. Saturday.