Smith, Molina help Lady Tigers blow out NOC-Tonkawa 88-62

Combining for 10 three-pointers, 50 points, and 15 rebounds, Jaiden Smith and Jamie Molina helped lead the Cowley College women's basketball team to an 88-62 win over the Northern Oklahoma College-Lady Mavericks on Thursday inside W.S. Scott Auditorium.

The victory improves Cowley's record to 3-0 on the season, while NOC-Tonkawa falls to 0-3.

On Thursday, Cowley started slow and shot only 24 percent as they trailed 16-15 after one-quarter of play. However, Smith scored 11 of her game-high 26 points in the second quarter to help the Lady Tigers go into halftime with a 40-35 lead.

NOC-Tonkawa scored the first five points of the second half to tie the game at 40-40 before Cowley answered with an 11-2 run that was capped by one of Smith's six three-pointers on the night.

The Lady Tigers shot 56.3 percent from the floor while out-scoring the Lady Mavericks 25-16 in the third quarter, taking a 65-51 lead into the final quarter of play.

Molina went on to score 11 of her 24 points in the fourth quarter, and Cowley cruised to the 26-point home win.

"We were not very good early, but it was nice to see us fight through some adversity and pick up our level of play," Cowley head coach Todd Clark said. "Jaiden and Jamie were both really good. Jamie took advantage of her minutes and Jaiden is getting more confident with her shot."

Sophomore Georgia Knight joined Smith and Molina in double figures with 11 points, while freshman Elysa Martinez filled the stat sheet by finishing with nine points, eight assists, five rebounds, and eight steals as Cowley forced the Lady Mavericks into 33 turnovers.

"I have been impressed with Elysa's ability to get her hands on the ball," Clark said.

Leila Washington led NOC-Tonkawa with 18 points and six rebounds in the defeat.

Cowley will remain home to face the Bethany College JV on Saturday morning at 11.

Box score:

NOC-Tonkawa (62): Emma Roberts 0-2 1-2 1, Alanna Williams 6-13 0-0 13, Jasia Malalo 2-4 0-2 4, Marta Perez 2-3 2-2 6, Leila Washington 6-13 4-5 18, Ella Murphy 2-8 1-2 5, Caitlin Busch 0-0 0-0 0, Natalia Walker 1-2 0-0 2, Amber Brazendale 1-3 2-2 4, Aubrey Bridges 2-4 0-0 5, Mia Collegan 2-4 0-0 4. Totals: 24-56 10-15 62.

Cowley (88): Jaiden Smith 10-22 0-0 26, Mallory Jackson 1-4 0-0 2, Destiny Yates 2-10 0-0 4, Elysa Martinez 3-6 2-3 9, Georgia Knight 4-11 2-2 11, Keturah Stewart 1-2 0-0 3, Rafa Bergonso 0-7 1-2 1, Hattie Pyle 3-7 0-2 8, Jamie Molina 8-16 4-4 24, Emma Diadone 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 32-85 9-13 88.

Three-pointers: NOC 4-18 (Washington 2-4, Williams 1-6, Bridges 1-3, Roberts 0-1, Malolo 0-1, Perez 0-1, Murphy 0-1, Walker 0-1), NOC 15-47 (Smith 6-16, Molina 4-9, Pyle 2-4, Knight 1-3, Martinez 1-2, Stewart 1-1, Yates 0-6, Bergonso 0-6). Rebounds: NOC 39 (Perez 9), Cowley 33 (Smith). Assists: NOC 9 (Roberts 3), Cowley 21 (Martinez 8). Turnovers: NOC 33, Cowley 15. Total fouls: NOC 16, Cowley 14. Fouled out: none.