EMCC Lady Lions play No. 5 Shelton State tough in Scooba but fall 77-63 in non-conference hoops action
The Lady Lions of East Mississippi Community College played fifth-ranked Shelton State Community College tough for the entire 40 minutes Monday night at Keyes T. Currie Coliseum only to fall, 77-63, in their final non-conference basketball action of the regular season.
SCOOBA – The Lady Lions of East Mississippi Community College played fifth-ranked Shelton State Community College tough for the entire 40 minutes Monday night at Keyes T. Currie Coliseum only to fall, 77-63, in their final non-conference basketball action of the regular season.
The EMCC women bolted to a quick 7-2 start before the visitors from Tuscaloosa scored 13 unanswered points to take control of the contest. The Lady Bucs increased their 22-13 first-quarter lead to 14 points (48-34) by the intermission.
Shelton State built its biggest lead (68-49) of the contest late in the third quarter, but the Lady Lions scored the final six points of the period to cut the deficit to 13 points (68-55) heading into the fourth quarter. In a low-scoring final period, the Lady Bucs continued to maintain their double-digit advantage en route to the 14-point road triumph.
Coach Sharon Thompson's EMCC Lady Lions dropped to 12-4 overall on the year, while No. 5 Shelton State improved to 22-1 on the campaign.
For the home team, Columbus High School product Ki-Ki Patterson led all scorers with 21 points. EMCC freshman Quantesha Patterson registered her 10th double-double of the season with 16 points while tying her season high with 15 rebounds.
The Lady Bucs were paced by Tcheneavia Knight and Gabrielle Nicholson with 15 points apiece, followed by Meredith Lovelady with 13 points.
The East Mississippi basketball teams will return to MACJC North Division action Thursday night in Scooba by playing host to Mississippi Delta Community College. A 5:30 p.m. women's game will be followed by a 7:30 p.m. men's contest at EMCC's Currie Coliseum.