EMCC Lady Lions top visiting Holmes 60-49 in division hoops opener; Men's game suspended in second half due to floor conditions

SCOOBA – The Lady Lions of East Mississippi Community College never trailed in claiming a 60-49 home triumph over Holmes Community College in their MACJC North Division basketball opener played Thursday night at Keyes T. Currie Coliseum on the Scooba campus.  The men's game was suspended due to floor conditions with 6:17 left in the second half and EMCC leading Holmes 51-49.

In the women's contest, the home-standing Lady Lions led by as many as 12 points (17-5) in the opening half before settling for a 30-21 halftime lead.  EMCC maintained the advantage throughout the closing period, though the visitors trimmed the deficit to a basket (37-35) midway through the second half.

With the EMCC women ahead by only four points (42-38) with 7:45 remaining in the contest, sophomore guard Takera Mitchell scored the Lady Lions' next 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, to reclaim their double-digit cushion (52-41) with five minutes left in the game.  The Lady Bulldogs would only get as close as seven points (55-48) the rest of the way.

Improving to 5-2 overall, head coach Sharon Thompson's EMCC Lady Lions were led by Mitchell's career-high 22 points.  The former Wayne County High School standout tallied 14 of her game-high total after intermission, including a dozen points over the game's final seven minutes.

EMCC freshman Jaylen Cox followed with eight points and a team-most nine rebounds, while sophomores Wilma Davis, Charmane Tims and Savannah Kimmons all added seven points each.

Falling to 2-7 overall on the year, the visiting Holmes Lady Bulldogs were paced by Carmesha Nalls and Brandi Carter with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

In the nightcap, the 3-1 EMCC Lions had overcome a 49-41 deficit with 13 minutes remaining by running off 10 unanswered points before action was stopped with 6:17 left in the contest because of slick floor conditions.  A date and time for the conclusion of the MACJC North Division men's contest will be determined at a later date.

Both East Mississippi basketball teams travel to neighboring Alabama to take on Wallace State-Hanceville during a Saturday afternoon men's/women's doubleheader (1 & 3 p.m.).  The Lions return home to play host to Baton Rouge Community College next Tuesday (Dec. 10) in a 6 p.m. men's contest only.  The Lady Lions welcome Jones County Junior College on Friday (Dec. 13) for a 5 p.m. women's game only in EMCC's final basketball action prior to the start of the Christmas holiday.