CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M's Zamorye Roberts scored 21 in her Lady Buff debut but WT struggled to find a rhythm offensively in a 69-57 season-opening loss to the #6 Central Missouri Jennies on Friday afternoon in the opening day of the D2CCA Tipoff Classic presented by Suddenlink at the First United Bank Center in Canyon.
 
Roberts led the way for the Lady Buffs as the transfer went 8-of-17 from the floor including 2-of-6 from behind the arc for a team-high 21 points to go along with eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals. Karley Motschenbacher impressed in her first game in Maroon & White as the Moorhead, Minnesota product went 5-of-10 from the field for 10 points to go along with seven boards and an assist.
 
The Lady Buffs finished the afternoon going 22-of-62 (35.5%) from the floor including 3-of-16 (18.8%) from behind the arc and 10-of-14 (71.4%) from the free throw line with 35 total rebounds (nine offensive, 26 defensive), 12 assists, eight turnovers, nine blocks and 10 steals.
 
UCM was led by Nija Collier who went 6-o-16 from the floor including 3-of-6 from deep and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line to finish the game with 21 points to go along with a game-high 12 rebounds for a double-double. The Jennies went 26-of-62 (41.9%) from the field including 6-of-14 (42.9%) from deep and 11-of-15 (73.3%) from the charity stripe with 44 rebounds (11 offensive, 33 defenive), 10 assists, 13 turnovers, three blocks and fouru steals.
 
HALFTIME REPORT
The Lady Buffs trailed 33-29 heading into the locker room as they went 12-of-31 (38.7%) from the floor including 2-of-11 (18.2%) from deep and 3-of-4 (75%) from the free throw line to go along with 20 rebounds (four offensive, 16 defensive), six assists, six turnovers, five blocks and five steals. The Jennies went 11-of-31 (35.5%) from the field including 3-of-8 (37.5%) from deep and 8-of-12 (66.7%) from the charity stripe with 21 boards (five offensive, 16 defensive), five assists, six turnovers, one block and two steals.
 
COMING UP NEXT
The Lady Buffs face off with the Drury Lady Panthers tomorrow afternoon with tipoff set for 1:30 p.m. at the First United Bank Center. Drury picked up a 92-79 victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State to open the D2CCA Tipoff Classic on Friday afternoon.