No. 15 T-Bird (WBB) Falls to No. 11 Clarendon

The T-Birds lost their second straight conference game to Clarendon College 62-56 on Monday, Feb. 16.

NMJC fell behind early in the first quarter trailing the Bulldogs 14-4 with under 4:00 in the period. The T-Birds closed the quarter on a 15-3 run highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers from Kaycee Steinke in the final minute. The T-Birds led after the first quarter 19-17. 

The second quarter proved to be the difference in the game with NMJC only managing eight points to Clarendon's 16. The Bulldogs' Julianna Dada scored 10 of her 15 points in the quarter. Clarendon led at the break 33-27. 

NMJC trailed by six points again at the end of the third quarter 46-40. The T-Birds only cut the game to one possession once in the second half, 46-43, with it coming in the fourth quarter at the 8:00 mark. The Bulldogs held the Thunderbirds at bay the rest of the way winning by six points, 62-56.

Sophomore guard Jada Graves scored 22 points and dished out six assists in the loss. Madison Wilson scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds off the bench.

Forward Bright Eze snatched a game-high 12 boards and rejected a career-high five shots Monday night.  

The T-Birds have lost five games this year with two apiece coming from Clarendon and Howard and the lone non-conference loss in OT to Arizona Western.     

NMJC shot 21-for-62 (33.9%) from the field, 4-of-18 (22.2%) from the 3-point line, and 10-of-14 (71.4%) from the charity stripe. NMJC forced 15 turnovers and held the Bulldogs to 35.3% from the field.

The T-Birds (6-4) are fourth in the WJCAC standings, trailing South Plains (7-3), Howard (8-1), and Clarendon 10-0. 

The No. 15 Thunderbirds move to 19-5 (6-4) on the year and will face South Plains College in Hobbs, NM Thursday, Feb. 19 at 5:45 p.m. MST.