Lady Coyotes scoring more, winning more

When it comes down to it, the team that scores more wins the game. 

And the Weatherford College Lady Coyote basketball team is doing more of both this season. As of this article, they were 15-7 overall, 6-3 in the Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference and averaging 75.7 points per game. 

Compare that to last season when they finished 12-17, 7-9 in the NTJCAC and averaged 68 points per contest. 

"We've got good balance. We're getting points inside and out," Lady Coyote head coach Bob McKinley said. "We've got a really compatible group. Who cares who scores as long as the ball goes in the basket." 

That is evidenced by a half a dozen players on the roster who are averaging at least five points per game. Sophomore Jacque Giron leads with an average of 15.2 points per game (third in the NTJCAC), followed by freshman Neso Anisiobi at 13.2 (eighth in conference), freshman Pearson McVay at 8.6 and sophomore Anja Djukic with 7.0. 

Also, the Lady Coyotes' field goal percentage of 43.7 is above last season's 40.8, as is their 3-point percentage of 32.6 compared to 30.5 a year ago. 

Their scoring average ranks third in the NTJCAC and fifth in Region V. Their field goal percentage leads the conference and second in the region, while they are second in the conference in 3-point percentage and fourth in the region. 

Individually, Anisiobi ranks fourth in the conference in field goal percentage (48.7), with McVay sixth (45.9) and Giron seventh (45.4). Giron is also fourth in 3-point percentage at 37.0. 

In the 2023-24 season, the Lady Coyotes topped 100 points once with 103. So far this season, they've eclipsed the century mark three times, including 110 points, along with 106 and 105. 

In addition, they've come close on three other occasions with 97 twice and 94 once. 

McKinley credited much of the offense to improved rebounding as well this season. Anisiobi leads the league with an average of 8.5, McVay is fourth at 7.7 and sophomore Naomi Wilson is tied for 10th with 5.8. 

"We've been rebounding well, and that makes a big difference," McKinley said. 

While it wasn't one of their more explosive offensive performances, McKinley noted the Lady Coyotes grabbed 44 rebounds in their recent 53-51 win over Cisco. 

"Most of those were defensive rebounds, but that keeps the other team from scoring," he said. 

As for his own team's more prolific scoring this season, he smiled and said, "The more you have score, the happier everyone is."