The No. 5-ranked TVCC Lady Cardinals stormed back from being down by 18 points Saturday afternoon to beat No. 3 Blinn, 67-65, in the Region XIV Tournament Championship Game.

 

Briana Peguero's two free throws with 9 seconds left in regulation sealed the deal for the Lady Cardinals and put a cap on an exciting fourth quarter that saw seven lead changes and four ties.

 

The pivotal move in the contest may have been made by Lady Cardinal Coach Precious Ivy, who changed up the TVCC attack to start the third quarter, bringing her posts to the top of the key and running the offense through them. That sparked an 11-3 run to start the second half, and the Lady Cards were able to cut the lead to 50-49 by the start of the fourth quarter.

 

The offensive change also helped even out the foul calls. In the first half, the Buccaneers shot twice as many free throws as the Lady Cards and held a 10-point advantage from the line as they built a 37-24 halftime lead. By game's end, both teams had shot 32 free throws, with TVCC hitting on four more.

 

Including Peguero's two game-winners.

 

Abby Cater paced the Lady Cardinals with 19 points and 9 rebounds. Cater was named the Tournament MVP.

 

Ashanti Barnes added 14 points; Kaila Kelley had 8 points; Destinee McDowell 7; Emanj Jenkins and Briana Peguero had 6 each; LaFaedria Green 5; and Makiyah McCollister 2.

 

Tiffany Tullis led Blinn with 21 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, and 4 blocks.

 

(Report courtesy of Michael Hannigan of Hannigan Media)