Lady Tigers struggle against Centenary

By Staff Reports

Centenary went on a 12-0 run early in the second half to gain control of a close game and pull away for a 77-61 win over East Texas Baptist in non-conference women’s basketball action Monday night at The Gold Dome.

The loss was the fifth in the last six games for ETBU (5-10), which will resume American Southwest Conference action Thursday with a short trip to Tyler for a game against UT Tyler on Thursday night.

Centenary (5-11), in its first season as a member of NCAA Division III, picked up its second win in as many games this season over the Tigers.

ETBU held a 33-32 lead at halftime and trailed 39-37 with just over 17 minutes to go before Centenary went on its game-changing run. The Ladies scored 12 straight points to go up 51-37 over a four-minute stretch, and the Tigers got no closer than nine points the rest of the way.

ETBU cut the deficit to nine, 64-55, on a layup by Enid Sanchez with 4:10 to go. But Centenary responded with a 7-0 run to put the game away.

ETBU junior and leading scorer Brandace Latin, playing in her hometown for the first time since starring at Byrd High School, scored a game-high 19 points and had 10 rebounds in 31 minutes. Freshman Amanda Rucker scored 17 points in 30 minutes.

Junior Holly Phelps, chasing the league rebounding title, ripped down a career-high 18 boards while scoring six points.

Centenary placed five players in double figures, led by Jalena Sanders’ 19 points and 12 rebounds.