Graves Records Career-High 14 Assists in Win Over FPC

The Thunderbirds defeated Frank Phillips on the road 74-59 to earn their 17th victory of the year on Tuesday, Jan. 27.  

Jada Graves scored 19 points and set a career high in assists with 14. This was her fourth double-double of the season. Graves' 14 assists are second all-time in NMJC history trailing the 15 assists Monica Maestas posted in 1992. 

Graves set the tone in the first quarter with 10 points. She scored or assisted on every field goal in the period accounting for 17 of the team's 18 points. The sophomore guard was even better in the second quarter dishing out six assists as NMJC led 39-34 at half. 

NMJC blew it open in the third quarter, outscoring the Plainsmen 17-8 in the period to hold a 56-42 lead. Frank did not have a fourth quarter comeback in them and fell by 15 points.   

Sophomore forward Bright Eze had a career day in Borger registering a career-high 14 rebounds. Luisa Amaral was just shy of a double-double finishing with 10 points and nine rebounds. 

Zarai Lewis ended the night in double figures scoring 14 points. Rekiah Bowen came off the bench tallying 13 points in 20 minutes of play.   

The T-Birds shot 28-for-73 (38.4%) from the field, 10-of-25 (40%) from the 3-point line, and 8-of-11 (72.7%) from the stripe. NMJC held the Plainsmen to 30% from the field. 

The No. 13 Thunderbirds move to 17-3 (4-2) on the year and will face Odessa College in Odessa, Texas Monday, Feb. 2 at 5:45 p.m. CST.