EUNICE, La. – The 14th-ranked Blinn Buccaneers will head into 2013 with a perfect 13-0 record.
The Buccaneers defeated LSU-Eunice 75-51 here Saturday thanks to an overpowering second half that saw sophomore guard Jazzmin Parker score 18 of her team-leading 19 points.
Blinn trailed 46-43 when head coach Jeff Jenkins put Parker into the game. She made an immediate impact.
“That’s just who she is,” Jenkins said. “She can score. I don’t think it’s a coincidence we went on our run right when she got hot.”
While Parker was leading the offense, Danielle Espinoza and Amari Jones led the Blinn defense in holding the Bengals to just five points over the final 15 minutes. Taylor Hurd led the Bengals with a game-high 19 points while Elisavet Politopoulou added 18.
“I thought in the final 15 minutes we made everything a pretty tough shot,” Jenkins said. “Dani and Amari really made it tough on Hurd and Politopoulou in the final 15 minutes. They had to earn their points.”
Parker contributed on the defensive end as well, taking a pair of charges. Coming into the season, Parker’s defense and rebounding were question marks, but the 5-foot-8 guard from Katy Mayde Creek has spent extra hours in the gym to become a better all-around player, Jenkins said.
“She wants playing time,” he said.
Fatima Adams scored 11points for the Bucs while Espinoza and Aarika Reyna each added eight. Tierra Tucker chipped in with six points.
The Buccaneers will return to action on Jan. 2, when they face LSU-Eunice again, this time at the Blinn P.E. Building. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
“You kind of hate to see this Fall come to an end,” Jenkins said. “It’s a semester that doesn’t come around very often.”
For more information on Blinn basketball, visit www.buccaneersports.com.