Balanced scoring propels EMCC women to 72-53 home win over Northwest Mississippi in division opener
Balanced scoring and double-double efforts by Quantesha Patterson and La'Quesha Clemons lifted the EMCC women's basketball team to a 72-53 home win over Northwest Mississippi during Tuesday's MACJC North Division opener at Keyes T. Currie Coliseum on the Scooba campus.
SCOOBA – East Mississippi Community College's basketball teams tipped off MACJC North Division play on a winning note by sweeping visiting Northwest Mississippi Community College Tuesday evening at Keyes T. Currie Coliseum on the Scooba campus. Balanced scoring by both EMCC teams lifted the women to a 72-53 victory followed by the men's 88-80 triumph in the nightcap.
The EMCC women used an early 6-0 run to break a 6-6 tie and take the lead for good. The Lions then extended their 20-17 first-quarter lead by shooting 50 percent (7-14 FGs) from the field in the second quarter to move out to a 36-27 halftime advantage.
With a 10-2 spurt to open the second half, the Lady Rangers were able to cut the deficit to a single point (38-37) by the 5:25 mark of the third quarter. The Lions countered with seven unanswered points later in the period to open up a double-digit lead they would maintain throughout the fourth quarter.
While settling for perimeter jump shots down the stretch, Northwest managed just two made field goals in 17 attempts (12%) during the final period. In contrast, the Lions connected on 53 percent (9-17 FGs) of their shots over the final 10 minutes to pull away with the 19-point victory.
Improving to 5-3 overall with the win in their final game action prior to the Christmas break, Coach Sharon Thompson's EMCC squad had six players score nine or more points in the contest. Freshman guard Tyeisha Juhan led the way with 17 points followed by Kaisah Lucky's season-high 12 points. All-region performer Quantesha Patterson registered her 19th career double-double and sixth of the year in eight outings with 10 points and 14 rebounds, while freshman La'Quesha Clemons recorded her first collegiate double-double with 10 points and 11 boards for the winners.
Dropping their first decision in six outings on the year, the Lady Rangers were paced by Janesha Johnson's game-high 19 points. Averyale Joy was also in double digits with a dozen points for the visitors.