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The A&M Consolidated Lady Tigers won by rebounding -- quickly.
Consol bounced back from a tough loss to Aldine Nimitz on Tuesday to defeat Katy Cinco Ranch 47-35 for third place at the McDonald's Invitational on Wednesday morning.
"It's hard when you battle like we did yesterday," A&M Consolidated coach Nelda Gilbert said. "Usually when you play a team the caliber of Nimitz and come back the next day and try to battle, it's hard because it takes a lot out of you emotionally and physically."
Consol senior Consolo Palmer, who hit a 3-pointer from straight on to open the scoring, had 12 points as the Lady Tigers finished 3-1 in the tournament they co-hosted.
"Consolo worked that defense and tried to get out there and get the girls motivated to push it," Gilbert said.
Karla Gilbert, who picked up two fouls in the opening period, scored 11. With Gilbert sitting, Demi Clinch hit one of her three treys for Cinco Ranch, followed by buckets from Brandy Dittert and DeDe Nwanguma to narrow Consol's lead to 20-16. But the Lady Cougars never got closer.
Consol senior guard Rachel Carter swished her second 3-pointer of the second period, then got a steal and a layup to build Consol's halftime edge to 28-18.
Playing its fifth game of the tournament, Cinco Ranch looked weary in spots, and the Lady Tigers took advantage with a high-intensity attack, scoring seven straight points to end the third period.
Consol passed the ball crisply in spots, including over the final 4:40 of the game when the Lady Tigers began to milk the clock.
"When they are blowing the whistle, we told them to be smart and look for open shots," Gilbert said. "That will help us out later on down the road in district."
Her team didn't have to take many, keeping the ball out of the hands of the Lady Cougars in the final period when Consol scored just three points. Palmer had the only bucket on a running shot late.
Nwanguma, a 6-foot-1 junior, led Cinco Ranch (12-10) with 11 points.
A&M Consolidated 47, Katy Cinco Ranch 35
(Numbers indicate field goals, free throws made-attempted, fouls and total points)
CINCO RANCH (12-10) -- Demi Clinch 3 0-0 0 9; Kelly Richard 0 2-2 0 2; Carly Dittert 1 0-0 1 2; Ashley Roberts 0 0-0 2 0; Tara Cioccia 1 0-0 1 2; Megan Palmer 1 1-2 0 3; DeDe Nwanguma 5 1-2 3 11; Brandy Dittert 2 2-2 0 6. Totals: 13 6-8 7 35..
A&M CONSOLIDATED (10-8) -- Tierra Tucker 1 1-2 1 3; Consolo Palmer 5 0-0 4 12; Kiera Scott 2 0-0 1 4; Rachel Carter 3 0-0 0 8; Karla Gilbert 5 1-1 3 11; Danyetta Williams 2 3-4 2 7; Ashley Adeyemi 1 0-0 1 2. Totals: 19 5-7 12 47.
Cinco Ranch513107--35
A&M Consolidated1315163--47
3-pointers: CINCO RANCH -- Clinch 3. CONSOL -- Palmer 2, Carter 2.
Next: Consol hosts Harker Heights at noon Saturday.
